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Early voting breaks records

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Early voting for the 2020 election continues to break records, even in Gila County.

“This has been the craziest election I have ever been through,” said Gila County Recorder Sadie Bingham. “I have never seen a turnout like this.”

As of Friday, Oct. 16, a total of 25,002 voters have requested an early ballot or came in and voted early. “We have verified 6,000 ballots and, as of Friday morning, we still have approximately 5,000 to verify,” said Bingham.

Voters still have until this Friday, Oct. 23 to request an early ballot, which can be filled out at home.

In-person early voting is available Monday through Friday during business hours at the county recorder’s offices in Globe and Payson. Participants must be a registered voter. The county recorder’s office would like to remind voters to bring their own mask or face covering.

Voter enthusiasm for the Nov. 3, 2020 election is growing regardless of risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. More registered voters are taking advantage of early voting opportunities than ever before. Over 26 million people had voted as of Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the U.S. Election Project, a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida political scientist Michael McDonald. That’s more than six times the number of votes cast by the same point in 2016.