Published: October 26, 2008 11:07 pm      

Early voting totals climb to 5,411

Early voting in the Nov. 4 general election enters its final five-day stretch today with 5,411 ballots cast through Sunday.

Registered voters in Walker County can vote today through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the county annex at 1301 Sam Houston Ave.

“This is one of the wildest turnouts I’ve seen,” said Dee Brimer, county deputy elections administrator. “I am hoping we will get a bunch of people out starting Monday so we don’t have the long lines on Election Day.”

Brimer said 327 ballots were cast Saturday while Sunday’s totals reached 379.

“I was surprised we didn’t get the crowd I was expecting Sunday,” she said. ‘I can understand the numbers being down over the weekend because we were open only for four hours, but I thought we would have more.

“We had a good turnout for four hours each day, but I really thought it would be more. I figured we would have half of what they were doing during an eight-hour period.”

On Friday, 944 voters made it to the polls — the third highest single-day total following 992 on Wednesday and 953 on Thursday.

Brimer said Walker County has more than 31,000 registered voters for the presidential election.

“If we have one-third of the voters out for early voting, we could do possibly have 17,000 to 18,000 on Election Day,” she said.

Heading the Nov. 4 ballot is the presidential election with Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin up against Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

There is also the U.S. Senate race between John Cornyn and Rick Noreiga and incumbent U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands seeking re-election against Democrat Kent Hargett and Libertarian Brian Stevens.

Also are on the ballot are three contested races for county positions.

They include sheriff — incumbent Clint McRae (R) opposed by Doyce F. Cook (D); Precinct 1 commissioner — incumbent B.J. Gaines Jr. (D) opposed by Bobby Bates (R); and Charles W. Rushing (R) is opposed by Bobby Warren (D) for Precinct 3 commissioner.