By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

BEAUMONT — From the number of Jefferson County residents already casting their votes for the Nov. 4 General Election, it looks likely there will be a record turn-out.

Since early voting began Oct. 20, 40,354 people have cast their ballots in an election that will decide the U.S. President. In 2004, the last presidential election, a total of 54,543 people voted early in Jefferson County.

Theresa Goodness, chief deputy with the Jefferson County Clerk’s office, said there was excitement brewing around this election.

“Definitely people are willing to stand in line to vote. They want their voices to be heard,” Goodness said.

Of those voting early, Goodness said she was seeing a lot of first time voters coming out to cast their ballots in their first presidential election.

“It’s definitely the presidential election that everyone is interested in. That’s what we are hearing people say, and that’s what we get questions about,” Goodness said.

Of the 11 early voting locations, Goodness said the busiest so far has been the R.C. Miller Library on Dowlen St., followed by the Johns Library on Fannett Road in Beaumont, the Nederland Recreation Center and the Port Arthur sub-courthouse.

Jefferson County voters are following state trends. Of the state’s 13.5 million registered voters, more than 2 million have cast their votes during the initial eight days of early voting, according to a press release issued by the Secretary of State’s office.

Statewide, the number of registered voters ae up from 12.7 million rregistered in this year’s March primaries.

With four days left to cast ballots early, Goodness said she expects the lines to remain brisk, especially on Friday, the last day of the early voting period.

Early voting places are open daily through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Goodness encouraged anyone who can to vote early, because lines are expected to be long on election day.