Polk County voters are getting the jump on next month&squo;s election with 2,816 residents having already participated in early voting as of Wednesday. That number is just about 1,100 shy of the total number of early voting ballots cast in the last presidential election in 2004. In 2004, the total number of early voters in Polk County was 3,904.

The total number of Polk County voters in the 2004 election was 9,286. In the 2000 presidential election, Polk County had a total of 8,538 voters.

So far, the Polk County Board of Elections reports that 1,799 residents have voted at the board of elections office, 352 at the Green Creek Family Life Center and 215 at the Mill Spring Fire Department. Also, 448 absentee ballots have been returned out of a total 931 mailed out.

Early voters still have a couple of weeks to cast votes as the three early voting sites will be open until Nov. 1 (see box above for hours and locations). Regardless of the precinct in which residents are registered, all residents can vote early at any of the three locations.

You can register to vote at one-stop voting locations as long as you also cast your vote at that time. You will not be able to register at polling places on Nov. 4.

One-stop voting will continue until Nov. 1. All locations will be open that Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Currently, one-stop voting can be done at the board of elections office from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and at the Mill Spring Fire Department and Green Creek Family Life Center from noon until 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots are also being taken by the board of elections office until Oct. 28. The last day to return absentee ballots will be Nov. 3.&bsp;One stop early voting sites

Polk County Board of Elections

Womack Bldg., 40 Court House, Columbus

Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Mill Spring Fire Dept.

66 School Road, Mill Spring

Mon. – Fri. noon to 7 p.m.Green Creek Family Life Center

2382 Cox Rd., Tryon

Mon. – Fri. noon to 7 p.m.