By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

Numbers of early voters are forecasting a record turnout next Tuesday, and local election officials are adding more workers and making other preparations to handle the large number of residents expected to go to the polls.

A 76 percent voter turnout is being predicted in Missouri by Robin Carnahan, secretary of state.

Bonnie Earl, Jasper County clerk, said she agrees, based on numbers of new registrations and absentee ballots cast.

“I have seen personally people in their 60s and 80s come into the clerk’s office to register, who said they would be voting for the first time. A lot of people see it as the most important presidential election of their lifetimes.”

Earl and Kay Baum, Newton County clerk, are increasing poll workers for election day. More workers are being added in Cherokee County, Kan., and Ottawa County, Okla., though officials in those counties believe earlier voting allowed in the states could relieve an election day onslaught.

Nearly 5,300 absentee ballots have been cast so far in Jasper County and about 2,600 in Newton County.

“We had 2,250 total in 2004, and we still have three days to go,” Baum said.

In November 2006, Jasper County had about 1,700 absentee votes cast, and the turnout was 45.6 percent.

More election workers will be staffing the polls on Nov. 4, the clerks said.

“We’ve added more workers, and in some precincts, we’re splitting up the lines to help move people through,” Earl said.

In addition to those checking registrations and handing out ballots, Earl said she is stationing a “greeter” at each precinct in an attempt to help speed the lines.

“They’ll welcome them and ask them to get their voter card ready, answer any questions about acceptable identifications and hand out copies of the issues on the ballot so voters can study them while they’re in line,” she said.

In Cherokee County, Kan., there also will be more workers at the polls, though Sandra Soper, county clerk, said early voting may reduce numbers who go to the polls on Election Day.