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Nearly 40,000 Prince George's County residents opted to vote early in the general election — nearly three times as many as during the primary elections — during the early-voting period that began last week and ended Friday, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Early voters for the general election accounted for 7.45 percent of the county's 517,500 registered voters, according Mary Wagner, director of voter registration. More than 14,000 residents voted early in the September primary elections.

Democrats accounted for 88 percent of early voters in the general election, with 33,908 of 38,540 total votes cast. Republicans made up nearly 7 percent, with 2,554 of those votes; and 2,078 voters, nearly 6 percent, were registered independent or with a third party.

Prince George's had the largest overall number of early voters statewide, but was ranked eighth of 24 jurisdictions for voter turnout percentage, tied with Harford County. Talbot County had the highest percentage turnout, with 14.46 percent.

Early voting began Oct. 22. This was the first year early voting was conducted after being approved by voters in the 2008 election.

There were no reports of problems at the early voting sites in Prince George's, said Daneen Banks, the county's deputy election administrator.

Early voting in Prince George's County was held at the Upper Marlboro Community Center, the College Park Community Center, the Bowie library, the Oxon Hill library and the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.

Statewide, 219,601 of Maryland's 3,468,287 eligible voters cast their ballots early, an overall turnout of 6.33 percent. Of those who voted early, 140,341 were Democrats, 58,522 were Republicans and 20,738 were registered independent or with a third party.

dleaderman@gazette.net