Douglas County election officials are reporting modest turnout in advance balloting leading up to Tuesday’s school board and city commission election. But those numbers could change over the weekend when multiple advance polling sites will be open throughout the county.

Benjamin Lampe, deputy county clerk for elections, said his office had received 581 advance ballots through Tuesday. That would equal about 5 percent of the total number of ballots cast in the last municipal elections in April 2011.

Municipal elections typically produce low turnout rates. In 2011, only 13.5 percent of registered voters in Douglas County participated in the April elections. In 2009, turnout was 14 percent.

Voters can cast advance ballots in person at the Douglas County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday; from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday; and from 8 a.m. until noon on Monday.

Also on Saturday, advance voting will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lecompton City Hall, Eudora City Hall and the Baldwin City fire station.

Lampe said that Kansas statutes require advance voting to be closed at noon Monday. Voters must be in line before noon in order to cast a ballot on that day.

Voters may also request an advance ballot be mailed to them. Applications to have an advance ballot mailed must be submitted in writing. However, the deadline for counties to mail out advance ballots is Friday, so Lampe says people needing a mail ballot should request one as soon as possible.

Voters can call the county election office at 832-5267 for information about how to request a mailed ballot.

Regular polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, April 2.