Loeta Tingle wasn’t about to take any chances with her voice in democracy.

The 70-year-old Lawrence woman said she hadn’t missed voting in a single general election since she turned 18, and she wasn’t about to let her emphysema keep her away this time.

She cast her ballot just before noon Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse, just in case it rains today.

“I have breathing problems when it rains,” Tingle said after dropping her votes in the steel ballot box upstairs. “This worked out great for me. I had to get my (car) tags, too, so I killed two birds with one stone.”

The convenience of advance voting drew Tingle and 1,345 others to visit the courthouse polling place since Oct. 16. Another 3,138 cast advance ballots by mail a record number for the county as political parties pushed voters to keep ahead of the democratic game and make sure their votes count.

“I think it’s good for us, but it’s great for the voters,” said Patty Jaimes, county clerk. “More and more people should take advantage. Now’s the time when I start getting calls from people ‘I’m called out of town. I can’t be in tomorrow to vote.’ There’s no option for them.

U.S. REP. Dennis Moore talks with Beth, left, and Kent Foerster of Topeka before the Kansas University EA Sports All-Stars game. Moore was doing a little last-minute campaigning Monday evening outside Allen Fieldhouse. Other candidates traveled throughout the state, urging voters to head to the polls today. One result is certain: The KU men's team won its exhibition game, 111-94. For more on the game see Sports, pages 1C, 4C and 5C.

“If they take the opportunity to vote early, they won’t get caught in that trap.”

Tingle wasn’t about to fall into the voiceless abyss. She said she wouldn’t dream of missing out on her chance to have a say in her government.

“If I don’t get my 2 cents in, I don’t have the right to complain,” she said. “If I do, I do.”