April 19, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A total of 132 people cast ballots in Smithville and 38 in Alexandria Tuesday on the fifth day of early voting for the May 3 primaries in DeKalb County. That brings the five-day total of early voting to 722 including 678 in person and 44 by absentee. Through Tuesday, the DeKalb County Republican Primary turnout has totaled 470 compared to 252 for the Democratic Primary.
During the four hour early voting period in Smithville on Tuesday, 132 voted including 125 in person and 7 by absentee. In Smithville, 77 voted in the DeKalb County Republican Primary and 55 in the Democratic Primary.
For the first time ever, the election commission held an early voting site in Alexandria for two hours on Tuesday in which 38 cast ballots, all in person. A total of 32 voted in the GOP Primary and 6 in the Democratic Primary.
Here’s how the early voting total breaks down for each of the first five days (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13:
TOTAL—106
In person—92
Absentee—14
Republican—71
Democrat—35
THURSDAY, APRIL 14:
TOTAL-187
In person-183
Absentee- 4
Republican-109
Democrat-78
NO VOTING ON GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 15
SATURDAY, APRIL 16:
TOTAL-134
In person-132
Absentee- 2
Republican-94
Democrat-40
MONDAY, APRIL 18:
TOTAL-125
In person-108
Absentee/one assisted living-17
Republican-87
Democrat-38
TUESDAY, APRIL 19 (SMITHVILLE)
TOTAL-132
In person-125
Absentee-7
Republican-77
Democrat-55
TUESDAY, APRIL 19 (ALEXANDRIA)
TOTAL-38 (all in person)
Republican-32
Democrat-6
TOTAL FOR FIVE DAYS COMBINED:
TOTAL-722
In person-678
Absentee-44
Republican-470
Democrat-252
Early voting will run through Thursday, April 28 at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Smithville with limited hours at the Fairgrounds in Alexandria for the DeKalb County Democratic and Republican Primaries. This is the first time both political parties are having a local primary to select nominees for the general election.
“Voters are reminded these are primary elections and they can only vote in one of the elections,” said Dennis Stanley Administrator of Elections. “Under state law, a voter cannot vote in two primaries which are held at the same time, such as is the case on May 3rd.”
Stanley encouraged voters to study the ballots and make their decision which primary they wish to vote in before heading to the polls, either for early voting or election day.
Early voting hours in Smithville are as follows: Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursdays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to Noon.
Early voting hours in Alexandria will be Monday April 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
All properly registered voters can vote early at either location.