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Early Voters Lining Up Again In Tampa Bay Area

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2008

TAMPA - For the second day in a row, voters across the Tampa Bay area are lining up outside polling stations in record numbers to cast ballots for the Nov. 4 election.

Early voting began Monday, and aside from long lines and a few minor glitches with the new optical-scan machines, no major problems were reported in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Today, elections officials are predicting another big turnout.

"We've been getting a steady stream of voters," said Mia McCormick, a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County elections office. "There's a lot of interest in this election."

In Hillsborough, 8,214 ballots were cast Monday, more than double the number that turned out on the first day of voting in the 2004 election, elections officials said.

In Pinellas, 4,355 ballots were cast Monday, including 1,865 absentee ballots collected from drop boxes. To date, 6,100 mailed absentee ballots have been received.

Pasco County elections officials reported that 4,553 early votes were cast Monday, with another 18,124 absentee ballots recorded.

Early voting extends through Nov. 1. The general election is Nov. 4.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

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