By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Saturday is the last day for residents to exercise their right to vote in early voting before Tuesday’s primary election.

Nearly 3,100 voters turned out for early voting from Aug. 4 to Thursday, the last day numbers were available before press time Friday, according to the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Early voting also was open Friday and continues today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at six locations around Osceola County including the Supervisor of Elections Office and all five libraries.

The St. Cloud Library saw the largest turnout with 823 voters; the Supervisor of Elections Office had the next largest turnout with 624 voters over the six-day period.

Hart Memorial Central Library in Kissimmee logged 517 voters, the Poinciana Branch tallied 515 voters and the Buenaventura Lakes Branch had 413 voters.

The West Osceola Branch Library in Celebration logged 188 voters.

In the 2008 primary election, 1,700 out of a total of 13,874 voters cast their ballot during the early voting period, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Voters can cast their ballot at any of the early voting sites during that voting period. On Tuesday during the primary, voters can only vote at their designated precincts.

Taking part in early voting can save time and allow for flexibility not afforded on election day, Supervisor of Elections Mary Jane Arrington said.

Additionally, primary voting not only decides the Osceola County School Board and Kissimmee City Commission races but it narrows the field down in partisan races with multiple opponents such as Osceola County Clerk of Court and Osceola County Commission.

Tuesday’s primary election hours will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters unsure of their polling location can search by their address at www.voteosceola.com.