Local officials said they expect a large turnout in today’s presidential election.

“DeKalb County is expecting an 85 percent turnout for this year’s election, 5 percent more than the 80 percent turnout in the 1988 presidential election,” said DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes.

She said the high turnout is expected because there are traditionally more voters in a presidential election year and there is a high interest in this year’s election.

Holmes also said the county clerk’s office has received a high percentage of absentee ballots for this year’s election as well.

Voting hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and the process is fairly simple as well.

Holmes said inexperienced voters should have no problem learning the voting process.

“On a voter registration card, the township and precinct are printed above the voter’s name,” she said. “The voters should go to the correlating precinct polling place to cast their ballots.”

The polling judge then will ask the name of the voter and ask him or her to sign an application. The judge then will compare signatures from the application and the voter’s registration card, Holmes said.

She said if voters have moved since they registered and the addresses on their registration cards are different from their current home addresses, they will not be allowed to vote.

DeKalb County uses the punch ballot system and Holmes said a demonstrative voter machine will be located at all polling locations to help orientate new voters on how the machine works.

“There will be long lines at the various polling places, so voters should give themselves adequate time to vote,” Holmes said.

In addition to the presidential election, voters will get to vote on a multitude of local races as well, including DeKalb County Board.