Posted on 11/02/2004 9:49:56 AM PST by GulliverSwift
[11/02 12:14 PM]
I don't want to put too much stock into the anecdotal reports I'm getting. I don't want to focus too much on the trees, and not enough on the forest.
Having said those caveats, it sounds like turnout in the rural districts and counties in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota is big. And maybe Wisconsin, too.
From Stephanie:
I vote at a Fire Hall in a small rural town in Pennsylvania... Bainbridge. I was there at 6:45 to cast my vote for President Bush. Along with about 100 other voters. This is amazing when you consider what a small area this polling location covers. After speaking with some of the old timers while waiting in line, this is unprecedented turnout.
From Frank:
I voted this morning in the Valley Forge area in the Philly suburbs. I got there around 9:20 (I've got a newborn and got a late start) and didn't vote until 10:45. Around 10:30 I overheard an election worker say they'd already had 1/3 of the total voters they had in 2000. I'd say my district tends Republican, but not heavily. One annoying thing was that the check-in process was split into three lines: A-G, H-O and P-Z. Unfortunately, the A-G book (mine) was twice as thick as the others, so my wait was longer than the last 2/3 of the alphabet. Bad planning.
The election workers expressed some concern that they'd have to shut voters out when the polls close at 8:00 pm. GOPers, don't wait until the last minute!!!!
From Mark:
I went to the polls at 7:30 in rural PA (Berks County). I waited 25 minutes to vote and was number 113. Heck, I remember going the last time in the evening and only being 150ish or so. The turnout in my precinct was high (at least in the morning).
And for variety, here is Tom in Minnesota:
I live in Blaine Minnesota. A working class suburb of Minneapolis that used to be Democratic but now is a Republican district. Turnout at my precinct was extremely heavy. We waited about a half hour in line.
Meanwhile, a friend, a Kerry supporter who lives in a very heavily Democratic area of South Minneapolis reported to me that she only had four people in front of her in line.
And Bryan in Minnesota:
I'm one of Rove's exurbanites outside of Minneapolis. Showed up at the poll at 6:30am (polls open at 7am) and the line was about 50 deep. By the time the polls opened, we estimated at least 250 in line. When I left after voting, the line was at least 150 and a pretty good traffic jam of cars trying to enter the parking lot. Much, much heavier than 2002 Coleman/Mondale election, which may not be an accurate barometer.
From Mike:
I live in Farmington Hills, Michigan which is in Southwest Oakland County. Its a rainy day but not too cold. I arrived at 9:00 am... It took about 35 minutes to vote and with what looked like an above average turnout, one of the volunteers told me that the wait was over an hour during the morning rush before people go to work.
The best thing I saw was a man who was about 30 with 2 small children getting his picture taken in line. He said that he had just become a US citizen and this was his first time voting! The pride on his face was obvious and everyone in line congratulated him. Watching this it really confirmed to me what a great and special country we live in.
UPDATE: From James in Wisconsin:
Wow, BIG turnout at my polling station in NE Wisconsin (Neenah to be specific), which is Bush country. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes to vote in any previous election. This time, the line went out the building, all the way out to the sidewalk, and started going down the sidewalk, and it was continuing to grow the whole time I was there. It took almost an hour to get through the line. This looks good for Bush. The folks on the radio were saying election officials expect 75% turnout.
By the way, the vast majority of the people there looked like Bush people. You know, hunting caps, camo gear etc... The guy in front of me in line had a leather GOP jacket with a Bush button on it. He got all the way to the voting booth before they made him take it off. There was only one poll watcher there, and he was a Bush GOP guy.
Interesting. I wore my "W 2004" hat, which also had a local State Rep candidate's button on it, when I went in to cast my ballot. Nobody said anything.
LOL!
That would be my father -- he sticks his head in my office on occasion for updates! If he doesn't have me for information, I'm going to have to give him your number instead!!
Jimmur 74: I am from rural North East Alabama and we have heavy turn out. I tend to agree that the media has scared Bush people into voting big time. One election official confided that he had rather see Gore than Kerry.
Welcome to the club. I'm glad I don't have any work today, but they're paying consultant fees for my butt being in the chair, so here I am FReepin'.
I'm in a very conservative area of Central California (yes, there are a lot of Conservatives in the center of the state - the part that won't fall in the ocean when the big one hits) and I just voted. This is an area where Bush probably outpolls Kerry 4 to 1. I have NEVER seen so many people at my polling place. The place was packed. I'm not suggesting that Bush is going to take California - though miracles are possible - but I still see this as a very very good sign. If we're fired up here, I have to believe that we're fired up in places where it really matters.
John Fraud Kerry and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 527 organization are the best two things to ever happen to the Republican Party.
Thanks for giving us campaign finance reform, Senators McCain and Keating!
Didn't work out the way you had it planned though, did it?
Lets hope those 70 million evangelicals are voting today!
No big turnout here. Central PA. At around 8 this morning it took me a minute to get in and out.
The biggest "issue" may end up being a large-scale rejection of John Kerry's smarmy, effete New England prep-school act more than anything else.
Extremely heavy turnout in Huntsville, AL. 2.5hrs lines at my voting precinct.
A Lean Bush precinct in the Lehigh Valley ...
About 700 already (noon) out of 2100 on rolls (where about 200 are old ... due to people moving, death, etc.) for my precinct.
I certainly can't speak for all evangelicals, but my wife, many of my friends (fellow evangelicals) and I voted very as soon as the polls opened this morning and turnout was heavier than I've seen in the nine years I've lived here (in W. Central PA). The conservatives I know are fired up!
You can't wear a Bush or Kerry sign, but I wore my NRA Life Member Jacket for all the world to see. There was no doubt I was voting for GW!
I arrived to vote 15 minutes before the polls opened in my precinct just east of Flint, Michigan and the place was PACKED! I waited 1/2 hour. My precinct is Bush country so a high turnout was a great thing to see.
Wow, with all due respect I disagree. Iraq, the War on Terror, The Supreme Court, and the Gay Marriage Issue are all HUGE! These are some of the biggest issues that we've faced since the end of the Cold War.
You and I know that these are huge issues. But most of them were also huge issues in 1996 and 2000, and you didn't see this kind of turnout back then.
VERY heavy turnout in my district in Myrtle Beach, SC! I had to wait in line for close to an hour to vote. Good news - this is a very Republican district.
That's such excellent news. We're going to win!!!
I voted in Georgia's Fifth District, where Representative John Lewis, Democrat, was running unopposed. Anyway, it leans Democrat. I arrived at 7:20 in the AM, waited about two hours. After voting and leaving the building, I noticed the line was much shorter.
It's too early to tell, but I wonder if this massive Democratic turnout is just hype.
I see where you're going with this now. Good point.
Excellent! Keep up the good work...spread the word and get out the vote for President Bush today, do what it takes...Bush must win, or this country loses.
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