Opponents and supporters of the voucher referendum can probably agree on one thing: voting in this year's election will be a lot easier because of vouchers.

Utah County, instead of individual cities, will be administering this year's election as a result of the special election for Referendum 1. How will this affect the average voterfi

"We have machines," said Sandy Hoffmann, the Utah County elections coordinator.

No hanging, swinging or dimpled chads will get in the way of any candidate or voucher this year. Although many cities also have electronic voting, some smaller towns still make use of the nostalgic paper ballot.

Each county is responsible for administering elections for even numbered years, except in the case of a special election. With Utah County in charge, cities can breathe a sigh of relief.

City workers will not have to count votes into the early morning hours, and the city will not bear the expense of the ordeal.

"It's very expensive to bust out the machines and do the election," Hoffmann said. "The only thing the city is responsible for [this year] is collecting financial disclosures from the candidates."

The voucher debate may also help to light a fire under some reluctant or procrastinating voters. Hoffmann said she has seen a higher number of voting and absentee registrations than in past elections, and more people may choose to participate in early voting, which begins Oct. 29.

"I do believe because this is an emotional issue, on both sides of the fence, we will see higher voter turnout," she said.

In last year's general election, only one percent of the county's voters took advantage of early voting, but this year could see as high as 10 percent, she said.

One problem last year was the lack of early voting locations. There was only one, at the Utah County Administration Building, and residents from Saratoga Springs and other towns did not want to make the long trip to vote.

This year, there are three additional locations: American Fork Library, the Xango Office Building in Lehi and the National Guard Armory in Spanish Fork. These locations will be open from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 between 3 and 7 p.m., and from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 2.

The Utah County office will be open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.

"It really starts to eliminate the excuses that they couldn't get out to vote," Hoffmann said.

The deadline for registering to vote is Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. in person at the county offices, she said. However, according to the state elections Web site, those who register at that point can vote in the general election, but cannot participate in early voting. State law requires registration forms to be postmarked 30 days before an election.

For more voting information, visit elections.utah.gov.