As of 12:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, just over 1,300 persons had taken advantage of one stop voting at one of three locations in Person County. Those numbers were somewhat encouraging after a slow start to early voting, which began on April 17.

“It has picked up a little this week, but not as much as I had hoped for,” Person County Elections Director Brenda Whitlow said Tuesday.

When asked if she expected a rush of one stop voting prior to Saturday’s deadline, Whitlow said that was not something she was forecasting, but added, “If that were to happen, that would be great.”

One stop voting sites in the county are at the Person County Board of Elections Office at 331 S. Morgan St., the Person County Public Library at 319 S. Main St. and the Timberlake Volunteer Fire Department at 350 Ashley Ave. in Timberlake.

Personians may cast early ballots at all three locations today, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. One stop voting will also be offered on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the board of elections office and the public library, but not in Timberlake.

Whitlow said Tuesday that, as of 12:45 p.m., 641 one stop ballots had been cast at the library. An additional 476 ballots had been cast at the elections office and 191 persons had taken advantage of the early voting in Timberlake.

Personians who have not previously registered to vote can register and cast ballots at the same time during the one stop voting period, but not on May 6.

The turnout of early voters is not what Whitlow had hoped for, however, she said it was better than in 2004, the last time a presidential election was on a county primary ballot.

“I was really hoping for a better turnout, but I think it is a little better than what we had at this point in the 2004 primary,” Whitlow said.

The elections director went on to say she still remains optimistic for a high voter turnout for the election.

“I am really hoping for between 45 and 50 percent,” Whitlow said. “That percentage would include all the vote totals, one stop, provisionals, etc.”

Person County has nearly 23,000 registered voters.