By JIM BUTLER

About 20,000 fewer votes were cast early in Rapides for this week’s general election than were cast for the November 5 primary.

Absence of the presidential campaign star power is the generally accepted reason only 2,022 voters turned out through the November 30 close of early voting compared to 22,873 in the earlier vote.

Holiday week logistics are also credited with being a factor.

This time, according to the Secretary of State’s report, 881 Democrats and 871 Republicans voted early, with “Other” accounting for the balance.

A month earlier, 22,873 voted early. That included 11,249 Republicans, 7,578 Democrats and 4,046 Other.

Prior to any November registrations the parish had 81,928 registered voters, including 29,997 Democrats and 31,857 Republicans.

About 64 percent (52,400 or so) of the 81,928 voted in the November election, either early or on Election Day.

Saturday’s ballot includes a police jury runoff, two Alexandria City Council contests, two parishwide property tax renewals and proposed constitutional amendments.