Based on the number of early and absentee voters, Montezuma County could have record turnouts this year.

As of Monday morning, Carol Tullis, Montezuma County deputy clerk, estimated that the county had received close to 2,400 absentee ballots and that 1,500 voters showed up to vote during early voting.

The 3,900 voters who chose to vote before today comprise close to 25 percent of the county’s 16,500 registered voters, which Tullis said is about triple the number the county normally gets.

"I know that it (early voting and absentee ballots) are up all across the state. You visit with other county clerks and they’re just as busy or busier than we are," said Tullis. "We’re just sitting here hoping that we won’t run out of ballots."

Tullis said the county is expecting an 80 percent turnout this year in comparison to the normal 50 to 60 percent turnout.

She said the absentee and early-voting results will be one of the first precincts to come in, since they could be counted earlier in the day. Results should start being announced by early evening.

"The more voters we have the longer it will take, but we should be getting results some time after 8," predicted Tullis. Delays could occur if the votes don’t match the number of voters, which would require officials to hand-count the ballots.