The first week of early voting for the March 1 primaries ended with a total of 368 votes cast by Scurry County residents.
While it was a short week for early voting, the one-week total was 99 less than the 2012 one-week total of 467. There was one less day of early voting this year because county and state offices were closed Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday.
The 2016 total, when compared to the first four days of 2012, is up by 19. In 2012, 349 people voted early the first four days.
The 368 people who voted this week represents 3.96 percent of the 9,299 registered voters. In 2012, 9,182 people were registered to vote.
A total of 338 votes were cast in the Republican primary while 30 votes were cast in the Democratic primary this week.
Early voting will continue next week on the first floor of the Scurry County Courthouse. Voters may cast ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday. When voting, residents should remember to bring their blue voter identification card and a photo ID.
Two local contested races are on the ballot.
The Pct. 1 Scurry County Commissioners’ Court Republican Party ballot features incumbent Terry Williams facing Chuck Colvin and Phillis Leatherwood. Pct. 3 Commissioner David Harrell is being challenged by Howard Limmer and Shawn McCowen.
Five incumbents filed to run in the Republican primary and did not draw challengers — 132nd Judicial District Court Judge Ernie B. Armstrong, 132nd Judicial District Attorney Ben Smith, Scurry County Attorney Michael Hartman, Scurry County Sheriff Trey Wilson and Scurry County Tax Assessor/Collector Jana Young.
Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, was the only Republican to file for the District 28 Texas Senate seat race.
Rep. Dustin Burrows was the only Republican to file for the District 83 Texas House of Representatives primary.
Nine people filed to run in the Republican primary for the District 19 U.S. House of Representatives seat. They are Jodey Arrington, Jason Corley, Greg Garrett, John C. Key, Donald R. May, Don Parrish, Glen Robertson, Michael Bob Starr and Derenda D. Warren.
Parrish announced earlier this month that he withdrew from the election, but his name will still appear on the ballot.
Both parties will hold primary elections in the presidential race.
The Republican Party primary ballot includes Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Lindsay Graham, Elizabeth Gray, John R. Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum and Donald J. Trump.
Running in the Democratic primary are Hillary Clinton, Roque “Rocky” De La Funete, Calvis L. Hawes, Keith Judd, Star Locke, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders and Willie L. Wilson.
County Clerk Melody Appleton reminded voters that they may cast a ballot in only one of the party primaries. If a runoff is needed, voters must continue to vote in the primary in which they voted on March 1.