More people are voting absentee in Plymouth County than ever before.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the absentee ballot count in the county auditor's office was 3,899, hundreds more than the record.

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In 2004, the general election's final tally of absentee voters hit 3,386.

"And we've still got five days until Nov. 3," said Deputy Auditor Cheri Nitzschke. "Lately it's been constantly steady."

Nov. 3 is the last day to vote absentee at the auditor's office.

Nitzschke said from what she hears, people are coming in to vote early out of convenience.

"People don't want to stand in line on Election Day. They think it's going to take longer with the paper ballot than the machines we used to have," she said. "It's easier to touch a screen to vote than fill in all the ovals."

Deputy Auditor Stacey Feldman, who is running unopposed on the ballot for auditor, predicts this is part of an ongoing trend.

"I think we'll see it every year, with every election," she said. "People are more aware of the absentee option."

The county auditor's office will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Plymouth County Courthouse.

They will also have extra hours -- from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

The deadline to have an absentee ballot mailed to your house is nearing.

"Anybody who wants to have a ballot mailed to them has to get a request to us by Friday at 5 p.m.," Nitzschke said.

The polls in all voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. The precincts, area covered and poll locations are:

Precinct 1 - Town of Akron, Portland Township - Akron Library Conference Room, 350 Reed St.

Precinct 2 - Town of Craig, Grant Township, Preston Township - Craig City Hall, Main Street.

Precinct 3 - Town of Struble, Elgin Township, America Township - Le Mars Public Library, 46 First St. S.W., Le Mars.

Precinct 4 - Town of Brunsville, Washington Township, Johnson Township - Brunsville Legion Club, 305 Oak St.

Precinct 5 - Town of Remsen, Town of Oyens, Fredonia Township, Marion Township, Meadow Township, Remsen Township - Remsen Library, 211 Fulton St.

Precinct 6 - Town of Westfield, Sioux Township, Westfield Township - Westfield Community Center, 215 Linden St.

Precinct 7 - Town of Merrill, Liberty Township, Stanton Township, Plymouth Township - Merrill Civic Center, 321 Fourth St.

Precinct 8 - Hancock Township, Perry Township - Perry Township Hall on C-60.

Precinct 9 - Town of Hinton, Hungerford Township, Lincoln Township - Hinton Community Center, 205 West Main.

Precinct 10 - Town of Kingsley, Union Township, Elkhorn Township, Henry Township, Garfield Township - Kingsley Community Center, 207 East First St.

Precinct 11 - Le Mars Ward #1 - Le Mars Convention Center, 301 12th St. S.E., lower level

Precinct 12 - Le Mars Ward #2 - Le Mars Convention Center, 301 12th St. S.E., lower level

Precinct 13 - Le Mars Ward #3 - Le Mars Convention Center, 301 12th St. S.E., lower level

For more information on the election, contact the Plymouth County auditor's office, 546-6100.