Early voting turnout slow but steady

Sid Parker of Spring Hill could care less about the marital or sexual affairs of political candidates, or how much money this person or that made in his career.

For Parker, it's about one thing: the economy.

Jobs creation and the home foreclosure crisis are the biggest issues of this election year and that was foremost in his mind when he showed up at the Forest Oaks Supervisor of Elections Office on Thursday to vote early.

Parker wants to make sure the future is secure for his four children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Parker is one of 1,613 Republicans who took advantage of early voting, which began Saturday and continues through this Saturday.

To date, the county has also received 992 out of 2,025 absentee ballots.

Because Florida is a closed primary state and there is only a Republican ballot for this election, only voters registered with the Republican Party can vote.

Getting a jump on the election day Tuesday was a main reason why Richard and Evelyn Shipp voted early. Both said they like the flexibility of choosing a time to vote and fighting crowds on the day of the election.

The Shipps said they voted for candidate Newt Gingrich, who they believe has the best chance of defeating President Obama.

"He is the only one who can stand up to Obama," Richard Shipp said. "He's a good debater."

Evelyn Shipp said she is tired of the Socialist ideas of Obama and "we need to get him out of office."

"(Gingrich) knows the Washington bureaucracy and he knows Washington because he works on the inside. The Democrats are afraid of him."

Harold Smith, a poll worker at the Forest Oaks elections office, said he voted early for the first time and enjoyed the experience.

"It was great," he said. "Personally, I like it better. It was in and out."

Smith's job is to greet voters and tell them to have their photo identification ready.

Smith said he is disappointed that out of the 47,562 registered Republicans in Hernando County, so few show up to vote. And then they complain later when things go wrong.

"That's sad," Smith said.

The Forest Oaks site has drawn more than three times the early voters compared to the downtown Brooksville office.

Cookie Ruiz, the county's elections specialist, said she is averaging about 300 people a day at the westside branch – not an avalanche of people but still not bad.

People prefer to vote early to avoid crowds and there is generally less hassle, she said.

Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams said historically, presidential preference primaries don't attract large crowds.

That is a shame, she said, because Republicans are helping pick the candidate they want to represent them in this year's election.

"It's just been kind of slow," Williams said.

People can vote early at two locations: the main elections office in the downtown Brooksville government center, 20 N. Main St., room 165; or the westside office at 7443 Forest Oaks Blvd. in Spring Hill.

Voting is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

People must bring a photo and signature ID with them to vote.

For more information, visit the elections office website at or call (352) 754-4125.