Jefferson County Democrats, with three candidates seeking their party’s nomination for sheriff and another two running for County Commissioner, outvoted their Republican counterparts by 24 percent during the two-week early voting period ending Friday.

On the whole, voting was brisk from both parties, and is expected to be the same Tuesday during election day when the political parties decide candidates for races ranging from the local level all the way up to U.S. president, Theresa Goodness, chief deputy with the Jefferson County Clerk’s office, said.

“We had a good turnout, though I would not say it was a record turnout,” Goodness said.

According to data compiled by the County Clerk’s office, a total of 23,057 cast their votes early. Of that number, 14,219 voted on the Democratic ticket while 8,838 voted Republican. Those numbers reflect mail-in ballots received by the County Clerk’s office Monday.

Most of the voters from both parties waited until Friday, the last day of early voting to cast their ballots. On the Republican side, 2,526 people voted Friday compared to 2,685 Democrats doing the same.

This year marks a change in the way mail-in ballots are accepted. Mail-in ballots from civilians can be returned through Election Day and overseas ballots can be returned within six days of the election as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

While more Democrats voted than Republicans, the number of Republicans casting their ballots early nearly doubled from 2008 when 3,110 voted in the primary election. In 2012, 7,043 Republicans voted early in the March primary. This year’s Republican Primary reflected an increase of 795, compared to four years ago during the last presidential primary.

In contrast, the number of Democrats voting has decreased by nearly half from 2008 when 21,120 people voted in a primary that pitted Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama. In 2012 when Obama sought re-election, the number of voters dropped to 11,060. The number is on the upswing again this year with 14,219 people voting early.

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