Big early voter turnout in Md. lower shore counties

Thousands of Eastern Shore residents have already cast their ballots, taking full advantage of Maryland’s early voting that began last Thursday.

Wicomico County Election Director Anthony Gutierrez tells 47 ABC it’s encouraging, “We’re very pleased with turnout we’ve had over 1,000 voters each day the first couple of days we had 1,600 and then 1,500 and over the weekend a 1,000 each day.”

Just four days into early voting and with four days left the three lower counties are on pace to break records.

In Wicomico County, over 5,000 residents have already voted early, closing in on their 2012 mark of over 6,000.

Somerset County is nearing 1,000 early votes, which would almost triple their numbers from 2012.

It’s a similar story in Worcester County where Election Director Patricia Jackson says they’re already over 4,000 so far.

Jackson explains, “In the primary one day we only had 62 voters and so far today we’ve got over 400 so its a great turnout,” Jackson explains.

Gutierrez attributes the turnout to the convenience of early voting with much less wait time than on election day as well as the high interest in this specific election.

Some voters agree.

“We voted early today because of the lines on the 8th and we’re happy we did it early,” says Wicomico resident Nancy Dennis.

Terri and Mike Poulin say, “[it’s] because its the most important election of our time.” “Yeah, it’s pretty important.”

And with the early voting period lasting through this Thursday all three lower counties don’t see any reason why the turnout would slow down.

Early voting in Maryland will continue every night through Thursday, November 8th until 8 p.m.