Elections officials in St. Louis and St. Charles County are experiencing a significant increase in early voting turnout, leading to adjustments being made on the fly to accommodate the surge of voters. The St. Charles County Director of Elections initially expected 10 percent of the total turnout to come from early voting but has now revised that prediction to 25 percent, more than double the original estimate.
In St. Louis County, which boasts the highest number of registered voters in the state, the early voting turnout has surpassed expectations. Eric Fey, the Democratic director of elections for St. Louis County, reported that over 18,000 people cast their votes on Thursday alone, with a total of more than 50,000 voters participating in the first three days of early voting.
The high turnout is not limited to St. Louis County, as St. Charles County has also seen a significant number of voters at its two early voting locations. With more than 12,000 people turning up in the first three days, the election authority has had to bring in traffic cops to manage the gridlock in the parking lots.
In the City of St. Louis, long lines have been observed at the eight early voting locations, with voters waiting outside the doors and along the sidewalks. Despite the long lines, elections officials continue to emphasize the benefits of voting early and urge voters not to be discouraged by the wait.
Kurt Bahr, the director of elections for St. Charles County, encourages voters to take advantage of early voting to address any issues with their registration before election day, as there will be more time to resolve them. Similarly, Fey advises voters to research their ballots beforehand to ensure they are well-informed when casting their votes.
Due to the surge in early voting, elections officials are increasing the number of election judges, voting stations, or both to accommodate the influx of voters. For updated wait times in St. Louis County, voters can check online.
The unprecedented early voting turnout in St. Louis and St. Charles County reflects a strong civic engagement and a desire among voters to participate in the democratic process. As the election draws near, officials are working diligently to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots safely and efficiently.
