County sets gubernatorial early voting record

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Scurry County voters set a record during the two-week early voting period this year.
A total of 2,608 people voted early, which is the highest turnout ever recorded during a gubernatorial election. The previous record was 2,088 set in 1994.
This year’s early voting total represented 27.7 percent of the 9,399 registered voters in the county.
Voters will have the chance to cast ballots on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No local contested races are on the ballot, but the race for the District 83 Texas House of Representative seat between incumbent Dustin Burrows and challenger Drew Landry will be decided.
County Clerk Melody Appleton said this week the Pct. 14 location at the Northeast Community Center, referred to by many as Lloyd Mountain, will be moved to the north side of The Coliseum.  
A sign will be posted at the community center to remind voters of the change.
Appleton also said that voters in Hermleigh and Ira should be prepared to show their identification to both election judges. 
The Hermleigh Community Center and Roy Sallee Gym will be the respective polling locations for the general election, as well as school board elections for each district on Tuesday.
Hermleigh ISD officials announced that 46 people voted early in the school board election. In 2014, 38 people voted early. The candidates for the three seats are John M. Harty Sr., John S. “Jack” Harty II, David K. “Bubba” Botts, Michael Hildebrand, Gerald P. Rodriguez, John “Big John” Pence and Justin White.
Ira ISD also topped its 2014 early voting this year. Sixty-two people voted this year, up from 36 four years ago. The 10 candidates running for the four seats are Jerry Jamison, Dirk Dunn, Justin Donelson, Megan Shultz, Bill Walker, Justin Taylor, Jason Gruben, Tanner Poole, Dustin Murdock and Kayci Wall.
The high turnout for early voting was a trend statewide. More than 4.3 million Texans cast early ballots in the state’s 30 largest counties alone. In 2014, more than 4.7 early ballots were cast statewide.