Voters in Hope were trickling into the polls as balloting opened this morning in statewide preferential primary elections. Among the 10 precincts located at Hope Fair Park Coliseum, only 101 votes had been cast by 9 a.m. In Spring Hill, among the largest rural precincts, only 90 votes had been cast at 10 a.m., according to Hempstead County Election Commissioner Scott Brown. “Early votes take away a lot of those votes; but, it doesn't look like we are having the turnout we did two years ago,” Brown said. Hempstead County Clerk Sandra Rodgers said that a total of 832 early and 234 absentee votes had been cast at the close of early voting on Monday. Rodgers said there are 10,884 registered voters in Hempstead County. Polls will be open until 7:30 p.m. Polling places for today's vote will include: 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 2-A, Ward 3, 4-A, 4-B, Box 6, and Box 7 at Hope Fair Park Coliseum; Bingen - Bingen Community Center; Blevins - Word of Faith Church.; Columbus - Columbus Fire Station.; Cross Roads - Cross Roads Fire Station.; DeAnn - DeAnn Fire Station.; Fulton - Fulton Library. Also, Guernsey - Guernsey Fire Station.; McCaskill - McCaskill Fire Station.; McNab - Fulton Library.; Ozan - Ozan Fire Station.; Patmos - Patmos Municipal Fire Station.; Perrytown - Perrytown Fire Station.; Rocky Mound - Rocky Mound Baptist Church.; Saratoga - Saratoga School; Sardis - Ozan Fire Station.; Shover Springs - Shover Springs Baptist Church; Spring Hill - Spring Hill Fire Station; and, Washington - Washington Fire Station. Rodgers said the county courthouse will become election central with an old-fashioned election night watch party beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. She said finger foods will be provided along with soft drinks, courtesy of the Hempstead County Election Commission, Hempstead County Courthouse Officers and Employees, Hempstead County Democratic Women and Hempstead County Republican Women. Music will be provided by the Hempstead County Melody Boys and Glory Bound Gospel Quartet, and election results for local and state races will be posted on wide-screen television monitors provided by Aaron's. “It's going to be a lot of fun and we encourage you to get out of the house, bring your lawn chairs, and enjoy a great evening with family and friends,” Rodgers said.
