With exactly a week to go, Polk County residents have cast 3,490 votes so far during early voting for this election with unaffiliated voters casting the most votes so far.

Early voting continues through next Saturday, Nov. 5 with the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Early voting began on Oct. 20. Polk County voters have three options to vote early until next Saturday, including the Polk County Board of Elections, the Green Creek Fire Department and the Mill Spring Fire Department.

The most votes have been cast at the Polk County Board of Elections Office in Columbus with 2,749 votes cast there as of the end of the day on Wednesday, Oct. 26, according to the Polk County Board of Elections.

Green Creek has seen 435 votes and Mill Spring has seen 306 votes as of Wednesday.

Polk County unaffiliated voters had cast 1,200 votes as of Wednesday, with Democrats at 1,167 votes, Republicans at 1,115 votes and Libertarians with seven votes.

More women than men have voted so far with 1,906 women casting votes in Polk County, 1,561 men casting votes and 23 undecided as of Wednesday, according to the board of elections.

White people have also cast the most votes in Polk County at 3,232, with 169 black people, 50 undecided, 24 other, nine multi-racial, five Asian and one American Indian.

Times to vote at the board of elections office include Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Times to vote at the fire departments include Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The general election will be on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at all Polk County polling places from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Both the Democrat and Republican Headquarters are providing free transportation for people to go vote this year. To arrange for a ride, call the Republican Party Headquarters at 828-894-2777 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or for the Democratic Party Headquarters contact Pat Salomon at 864-384-5076.