Jill Schramm/MDN Election worker Lou Ann Fleck, right, gives ballot instructions to voter James Ell during early voting at the Ward County Administration Building Tuesday. Through Wednesday, 679 early votes had been cast in Ward County, and 483 absentee ballots had been returned. Statewide, 4,250 early votes had been cast, and voters had returned 22,383 or 66% of vote-by-mail ballots and 7,325 or 50% of absentee ballots. Early voting continues in Ward County from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Monday. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the county’s five vote centers on Tuesday.