Registrations are coming in and ballots are going out, the county’s election officer said.

With the general election looming, Shari Perry, Franklin County elections officer and clerk, said her office has seen a lot of activity in recent weeks as people register to vote. Today marks the last day to register to vote, ending at 4:30 p.m. at the clerk’s office in the Franklin County Courthouse, 315 S. Main St., Ottawa.

Registrations are coming in and ballots are going out, the county’s election officer said.

With the general election looming, Shari Perry, Franklin County elections officer and clerk, said her office has seen a lot of activity in recent weeks as people register to vote. Today marks the last day to register to vote, ending at 4:30 p.m. at the clerk’s office in the Franklin County Courthouse, 315 S. Main St., Ottawa.

Residents can then start exercising their democratic right by casting advance votes. Early voting starts Wednesday in the clerk’s office, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Just like voting on Election Day, residents will be required to show photo ID to vote early. Absentee ballots are expected to be sent out Wednesday as well.

The clerk’s office has recorded 17,017 registered voters in Franklin County as of Monday. That’s up from the number of registered voters recorded in late June, 16,775. Such a registration push is normal for a presidential election year, Perry said, who has served as election officer since 1996.

The county reported just shy of 5,300 votes in August’s primary election, with almost 85 percent of the voters casting Republican ballots. About one-third of the county’s registered voters cast ballots in the primary. Perry said she expects that number to grow in November’s general election, largely because of the presidential race.

“I don’t know if we’ll make 50 [percent] or not,” she said. “People are hyped up about president. I would hope so, but I’m guessing probably more like maybe 48 percent.”

Besides voting for commander-in-chief, Franklin County voters will cast their ballots for the county’s attorney, a race between Republican Stephen Hunting and Libertarian Fred Campbell; District 2 County Commission, Republican Ed Taylor or Democrat Rick Howard; District 59 Kansas House of Representatives, Republican Blaine Finch or Democrat Caleb Correll; District 5 Kansas House of Representatives, Bill Feuerborn or Kevin Jones; and District 12 Kansas State Senate, Republican Caryn Tyson or Democrat Denise Cassells.