If early voting numbers are any indication, election officials in Yancey County say that the 2012 November election should produce record turnout. Elections Director Mary Beth Tipton said that as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday October 24 over 1800 residents have cast their vote during the one stop early voting which began on October 18. Another 630 absentee ballots had been mailed out according to Tipton who said that turnout has been impressive so far with around an average of 368 ballots cast per-day since early voting began. Yancey County registered voters set a record for ballots cast on the first day of early voting when 435 residents marked their ballots on October 18. There’s only one early voting location in Yancey County, at the Board of Elections office in Burnsville. Hours are from 9am till 6pm Monday through Friday and from 9am till 1pm on Saturday. In Mitchell County the story is the same as citizens are taking advantage of the early voting process in large numbers. During the first six days of early voting over 2,000 residents had cast their vote at locations in Bakersville and Spruce Pine. Elections Director Amy Young said that the early voting turnout has been steady and that over 200 absentee ballots had been returned by mail thus far. Absentee ballots were mailed out to voters beginning in September and the last day to request mail-in absentee ballots is October 30th. Early voting will continue through this Saturday November 3.