Early voting numbers higher than expected

Tuesday is Election Day and early voting numbers suggest a better turnout than expected. Despite a slow start, New Hanover County Board of Elections Director Bonnie Williams said more people came out to vote than in the last municipal election.

This year, 2,500 people took advantage of early voting in New Hanover County. In 2007, that number was just over 1,800.

Williams said early voting is just an easy alternative to Election Day. “For some people, it’s because they’re going to be out of town or they expect to have surgery or some kind of sickness they have to attend to. But for the most part it is really about the convenience.”

Williams said she expects 20 to 25 percent of registered voters to turnout for Election Day Tuesday. The polls open at 6:30 a.m.