Nearly 1,000 people had voted early in Logan County as of this morning's totals and Logan County Clerk John Turner said he expects 1,500 to cast early votes by Saturday.

According to Turner, 998 Logan County residents have cast early votes for the upcoming general election, set to be held on Nov. 4.

Turner said 10 Logan County residents had cast votes Wednesday morning, bringing the total for early voting to within two of the 1,000 vote mark.

"In 2006, the first year we started (electronic) voting, 368 voted early and it's catching on now," Turner said.

"In the May primary election, around 1,000 voted early."

Turner said the increase in early votes is encouraging.

"Our absentees have doubled since May," Turner said. "We had 109 and now there's about 230 and they're still coming in.

"It's averaging about 100 early votes a day, so maybe we'll have 1,500 by Saturday. I think the voter turnout will be bigger than it was in May when only 34 percent voted. I'm sure maybe it will jump up to 40 percent (on Tuesday)."

Turner said today is the deadline for absentee votes.

Turner said the electronic voting machines have been checked and the early voting is running smoothly.

"The secretary of state's office was in yesterday to test the machines," Turner said. "They checked them out and said we're in good shape."