State predicts strong election turnout

State elections officials are preparing for a strong voter turnout next Tuesday, or at least ensuring that they don't get surprised if there is one.

Typically the Division of Elections orders about 15 percent more ballots than they think they'll need, based on the turnout in the last similar election, said Director Gail Fenumiai.

"We've ordered 100 percent, just in case there is a 100 percent turnout," she said.

That's probably more than they need, Fenumiai said, but it will ensure there's not a repeat of primary election problems where some cities ran out of ballots.

Early voting appears to be confirming the high interest in the election.

With several days to go before the election, already more than the 10,800 voters who cast their ballots early in 2004 have voted this year.

Presidential elections typically have about 60 percent turnout, Fenumiai said.

"We believe we're going to have at least that, if not much higher," she said.

In August some voting locations, such as Petersburg and Wrangell, ran out of ballots, she said. That came from unexpectedly high Republican turnout, she said.

Because primary voters are able to choose different ballot options depending on party registration, it is difficult to tell how many ballots to print. That will not be a problem in a general election, where a common ballot is used.

"This time there's only one ballot choice," she said. "It makes ordering ballots much more simple."

Voters in those Southeast communities that ran out of ballots were able to cast ballots using extra "sample" ballots, Fenumiai said.

That's something that's allowed for in statute, but elections officials try to avoid it because of extra work it entails in processing them.

• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.