Vidalia — Today is the last day for Concordia Parish voters to cast their vote early, something approximately 5 percent of registered voters have already done.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, 670 parish voters cast their ballots early, a volume that indicates interest in the races, Registrar of Voters Golda Ensminger said.

Of those, 620 were cast in person and 50 were mail-in absentee ballots. By comparison, during the election for sheriff and police jury in late 2007, 1,150 early votes were cast.

For the municipal and presidential primaries in February, only 390 early votes were cast.

“We have been busy,” Ensiminger said. “We may have five to 10 minutes at a time when we don’t have somebody, but it is pretty steady.”

On the ballot this time are the high profile races for district attorney and division “A” judge for the Seventh Judicial District Court, as well as a seat on the third circuit court of appeals, public service commissioner, local justices of the peace and constables.

The candidates in the district attorney’s race are Brad Burget, Andy Magoun and Ronnie McMillin.

Judge Kathy Johnson, one of the candidates in the judge’s race, said she thinks all five candidates in the two big local races are pushing for early voting.

“You can win an election with early voting,” Johnson said. “It is like money in the bank if you can get your people to turn out early.”

The other candidate in the judge’s race, John Reeves, said he believes that the interest in early voting is probably generated by a combination of the judge’s and district attorney’s races.

But he said the start of hunting season might have something to do with it as well.

“People may be lined up to do it now, knowing that they will be at the hunting camps,” he said.

The Sept. 4 Republican primary for the 5th U.S. Congressional District between incumbent Rodney Alexander and challenger Andrew Clack, which was delayed bacause of Hurricane Gustav, is also on the ballot. Aside from the high interest races, Ensminger said she believes that early voting — which until 2007 was only allowed for those who had a reason why they would not be able to vote on Election Day — is beginning to catch on with the electorate.

They like the fact that if something comes up between now and Election Day, they don’t have to worry about it because they have already voted,” she said.

The registrar of voter’s office will be open from 8:30 until 6 p.m. for early voting today.