UPDATED: Voting off to brisk start at LES

From left, selectman candidates Corinna Cole, Robie Marsters, road commissioner candidate Roger Gilpatrick Jr., and selectmen candidates Betttie Harris-Howard and Ben Thompson. (Harrison Thorp photo),

LEBANON - Despite heavy rains that portended a lower than average turnout, voting in the town’s annual elections and referendum ballot began brisk and continued steady in the early going today at Lebanon Elementary School.

By 11:30 a.m. Town Clerk Laura Bragg said about 375 voters had cast ballots, which she said was about average for that time of day for a June election.

Officials said when the polls opened there was a line of voters waiting to cast ballots and voting continued steady through the morning, slowing down a bit as the noontime hour approached.

Voters in Lebanon today were casting ballots for selectman, road commissioner, budget committee, school committee and school director.

There were also 34 referenda items to be voted on as well.

Polls will be open until 8 p.m. tonight and will stay open until the last voter who gets there before 8 is allowed to cast their ballot, Bragg said.

Results are expected at 9 p.m. at the earliest as absentee ballots and several write-ins tallies will also have to be counted.

Bragg said she gave out 189 absentee ballots to Lebanon residents.