Early voting for General Election began Oct. 23

While the November 6 General Election is less than two weeks away, early voting has already begun.
Beginning on October 23, voters can cast their ballots at the San Juan County Courthouse. The early voting will continue through Friday, November 2.
In addition, absentee ballots have been sent to area residents who requested them. Voters in six of the 20 precincts in San Juan County will vote entirely by absentee ballot. These include voters in Cedar Point, Ucolo, La Sal, Spanish Valley, Halls Crossing and White Mesa. Polls in the remaining precincts will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 6 and close at 8 p.m. that evening.
San Juan County Clerk Norman Johnson reports that there has been significant interest in the election, with a large number of residents registering to vote since the primary election in June.
Johnson explained that he did not see the registration coming from a single source, but from a widespread interest in the election. “The new voters are coming from every area of the county,” he said.
The race for the presidency of the United States may be driving much of the interest. Republican challenger Mitt Romney has strong ties to Utah. Romney earned a degree from Brigham Young University and was the leader of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.
The presidential race seems destined to be very close, both nationally and at the local level. In 2008, John McCain earned 52 percent of the major party vote in San Juan County, compared to 48 percent for Barack Obama.
A US Senate seat and the local seat in the US House of Representatives are other federal positions on the general election ballot. Because of redistricting, San Juan County will have a new representative filling the local seat in Congress.
Statewide offices on the ballot include Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer.
The local Senate and House seat in the Utah State legislature are also on the ballot. Once again, because of redistricting, San Juan County will have a new representative filling the local seat in the Utah House of Representatives.
Voters in northern and western San Juan County will select a County Commissioner, while three spots of the San Juan School Board are up for grabs.