Light Turnout at Hillsborough Polls This Morning

While turnout at Hillsborough County’s polls has been sparse this morning, the supervisor of elections office predicts a strong turnout overall.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Earl Lennard told CNN on Tuesday morning that early voting and vote by mail totals have already exceeded levels from 2008, the last presidential election year. Lennard said he wouldn’t be surprised if he had a 40 percent turnout in Hillsborough.

“If history is an indicator … I get the feeling we’re going to have a good, strong, robust turnout,” Lennard told the network.

Even so, Lennard’s office reported that about 18 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballot as of 2:30 p.m. today, based on 10 sample precents around the county.

The polls remain open in Hillsborough until 7 p.m. tonight as Republican voters choose their favorite to face President Barack Obama in the November election.