Jackson County Election Board sees early voting surge

CANCER.WE'RE LESS THANWEEKS FROM ELECTIONDAY AND IT COULD BE A BIGTURN OUT.LOTS OF PEOPLE AREALREADY VOTING ANDELECTION OFFICES AREPROCESSING ALL THOSEMAIL IN BALLOTAPPLICATIONS.JACKSON COUNTY HAS 2ELECTION BOARDS.ONE FOR KANSAS CITYAND ANOTHER FOREASTERN JACKSONCOUNTY,HEADQUARTERED ININDEPENDENCE.ELECTION OFFICIALS TOLD41 ACTION NEWS THEYSAW 442 IN-PERSONABSENTEE VOTERS INEASTERN JACKSONCOUNTY ON TUESDAY...AND 750 IN-PERSONABSENTEE VOTERS ATKANSAS CITY'S UNIONSTATION.THEY ARE ALSO SEEING ASURGE IN REGISTRATIONS.NEW ELECTION WORKERSARE BUSY PROCESSINGAND ASSEMBLING MAIL-INAND ABSENTEE BALLOTS.NOW IS ALSO THE TIMETHE ELECTION BOARDSARE SEARCHING FOR POLLWORKERS.THIS YEAR, THEY AREHOPING THE SCHOOLCLOSURES HELP ATTRACTYOUNGER VOLUNTEERS.All of our school districts areclosed, with the exception ofOak Grove schools, onElection Day.

That is sohelpful because we have somany students that are 18,and we pay anywhere from$185-$200 for training and theday of work.

It's a good wayfor younger people to makesome extra money and be ourcurbside voting judgesbecause you have to run backand forth.THE ELECTION BOARDTELLS US THEY HAVE FULLAND PART-TIMEEMPLOYEES WHO AREWORKING 14-HOUR DAYSPUTTING BALLOTSTOGETHER.THOUSANDS MORE ARECOMING IN BEFORE THEOCTOBER 21STAPPLICATION DEADLINE.OTHER COUNTIES IN OURAREA ARE ALSOPREPARING FOR VOTINGON BEFORE ELECTION DAY.CLAY COUNTY ISOFFERING IN-PERSONABSENTEE VOTINGMONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY,AND SOME SATURDAYS INOCTOBER.IT'S AT THE CLAY COUNTYELECTION BOARD OFFICEAND LATER, THE CLAYCOUNTY ANNEX.PLATTE COUNTY ALSOPLANS TO OFFER IN-PERSON ABSENTEEVOTING, AS WELL AS MAILIN AND VOTING ONELECTION DAY.JUST REACH OUT TO THEPLATTE COUNTY ELECTI