Elizabeth Cook

Wythe County Registrar Elizabeth Cook pointed out that Monday, Oct. 4, is the last day to register for the Nov. 2 election.Her office is open until 5 p.m. that day.

The registrar will accept applications for absentee ballots through Thursday, Oct. 28.Deadline for voting an absentee ballot in person is Saturday, Oct. 31, by 5 p.m.

"I'll be in the office the last two Saturdays in October - the 23rd and 30th - from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.," Cook stated.

Elizabeth Cook, Wythe County Voter Registrar
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There has never been any problem with counting votes in Wythe County, according to Elizabeth Cook, Wythe County voter registrar."I think we have the best voting equipment of anywhere," she said."If there is a fraud-free machine, we have it."Wythe County currently uses Optech Eagle III voting machines, which have been in place since 1995.

According to Cook, the machines are virtually fool-proof.There is a broken arrow next to each candidate's name, and voters cast their ballot simply by connecting the arrow next to the candidate they wish to vote for.Voters then place their ballots in a counting machine themselves, Cook said.This means that no one touches a ballot but the voter who is casting that ballot, ensuring that there is no opportunity for anyone to tamper with the votes.

Around 60 percent of Wythe County residents are registered voters, Cook said.As of Aug. 2, 16,891 Wythe Countians were registered to vote.This number is quite impressive, Cook said, considering the fact that the total population of Wythe County is 27,599 and that the population includes minors and others who are not even eligible to vote.

However, not all registered voters vote in every election.In the 2000 presidential election, a total of 10,928 Wythe County residents cast a vote.

There are a few requirements individuals must meet before they are eligible to vote, Cook said.First, they must be 18 years old by Nov. 2.All voters must also be U.S. citizens, and they must be legal residents of the state and county in which they wish to vote.If an individual has ever been convicted of a felony, he must have his voting rights restored by the governor in order to vote.

According to Cook, there are several ways residents can register to vote.There are registration applications available at the post office, the DMV and the Voter Registration Office.Residents can also call the Voter Registration Office at 223-6038 and have an application mailed to them.

In order to vote in the Nov. 2 election, individuals must be registered by Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. Cook said that she usually sees an increase in people wanting to register before big elections."I've already started to see an increase this year," she said.

Many Wythe County citizens routinely vote using absentee ballots, Cook said.She said that the majority of absentee ballots in Wythe County are cast by truck drivers, students and individuals who work out of town during the week.

Not just anyone can vote by absentee ballot, though, Cook said.The following Wythe County residents are eligible to vote by absentee ballot if they wish: students; individuals who works for a business out of town; individuals who will be on vacation on Election Day; individuals who will be working away between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day; disabled persons; caregivers to a disabled person; military personnel serving out of town; individuals who are confined while awaiting a trial; and individuals who have religious obligations on Election Day.

Absentee ballots can be picked up at the Voter Registration Office.According to Cook, the last day absentee ballots can be received by mail and still be counted with the election votes is Oct. 28.

According to Wythe County General Registrar Elizabeth Cook, it's hard to compare elections in terms of voter turnout, but said that it was a fairly good turnout.

In response to how this election compared to others, Cook said, "It's kind of hard to tell because the last senate race was on the same ballot as the presidential race (in 2000).It's apples and oranges."

According to Cook, voters come out for what's on the ballot.Cook said that the senate race was pretty high on people's minds, as well as the constitutional amendments, especially the first on marriage.

"It just depends on what's on the ballot," she said.

Elizabeth Cook

276-223-6038

govote197@state.va.us