N.C. voters out in large numbers

The News & Observer, ^ | Nov. 5, 2002 | TIM SIMMONS

[jern]

By TIM SIMMONS, STAFF WRITER

North Carolina voters began streaming to the polls in relatively large numbers this morning as this year's election campaigns shifted their attention to getting out the vote.

Many precinct workers throughout Wake County reported voters were waiting when polls opened at 6:30 a.m., said Cherie Poucher, director of the Wake County Board of Elections.

"Things are looking very good at this point, and we are feeling good about turnout," Poucher said.

The Wake board of elections is not predicting local voter turnout this year, although state officials said they are expecting about 50 percent of registered voters to come to the polls for the mid-term election statewide. Turnout for general elections in North Carolina historically run between 42 and 50 percent. The polls are open across the state until 7:30 p.m.

Weather could play a role in voting turnout later on today, with showers predicted.

"We've had quite a few people come in right away while it's still dry," said Jeannie Inskeep, the chief judge for Precinct 18-01 on Trailwood Drive in Raleigh. "It looks like it's going to be a good day."

More than 200 people had voted at the precinct by 8 a.m. compared to only 300 voters for the entire day during the September primary election. No major problems were reported throughout the county or the state, although several minor glitches forced precinct workers to improvise in the first few hours of the day.

Workers found themselves locked out of the building at Precinct 17-03 in Raleigh at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Early voters cast their ballots outside until things could be set up, Poucher said. Jammed ballots also caused small delays in a few places.

Statewide, voting was delayed at precincts in Charlotte, New Hanover County and Jones County because of machine malfunctions or incomplete registration lists that had to be corrected before those polls could open, said Don Wright, general counsel for the state board of elections.

"But the first part of the morning hasn't brought us any problems and we hope it stays that way," Wright said.

With a full ballot, voters came to the polls for a variety of reasons. For Renee Wall, who lives two blocks from the fire station where ballots are cast in Precinct 17-03, it was the chance to make sure she voted for John Baker in the local race for sheriff.

Across town where voters in Precinct 1-15 cast votes at Carroll Middle School, it was the chance to case a vote for Elizabeth Dole that especially attracted Carl Ebhardt and his wife Glenda to the polls.

"We vote every election so we would have been here anyway, but it's the senate race that's the most important to us this year," Glenda Ebhardt said.

[theophilusscribe]

I'm the Civic Concerns liason for my Sunday School class. Got lots of ladies registered and lots of Christian Coalition guides passed out. My ladies are looking forward to voting! :o)

[Guillermo]

High voter turnout sucks.

Things are not looking good for the GOP.

And just imagine how many more immigrants will be registered to vote by 2004.

Our political future is quite bleak.

[Inspectorette]

One thing did bother me, my husband had to vote ahead of time and I looked at the book as I was being checked in and they had nothing marked on his name about having voted.

Well,heck, just have him go down and vote again - that's what the Dems do!

[EternalVigilance]

Our political future is quite bleak.

Good afternoon, sunshine.

[Overtaxed]

Late voters, extension of hours and vanloads of people driving from polling place to polling place are better indicators of Democrat turnout.

It's raining now. Maybe they'll just stay home.

[Guillermo]

Demographics friend.

I don't see the tidal wave of immigrants ceasing anytime soon. And those are overwhelmingly Democratic voters.

[Wrigley]

Wow, interesting predictions. I hope your friends take your guns away, you're a depressing person.

[Constitution Day]

...Don't Call Me Liddy 48, Skipper's Boy 52.

I'm not voting till after I get off work, but from what I hearing, the turnout is good so far in Edgecombe County, where I live.
It's a heavily Dem county, so bad news here.

We'll see.

[EternalVigilance]

Well, let's all just crawl in a hole and die then, eh?

[Howlin]

North Raleigh. And, boy, was I surprised. I had to update all their phone numbers!

[Darth Reagan]

Wow, interesting predictions. I hope your friends take your guns away, you're a depressing person.

Don't worry about me. I plan to be pleasantly surprised this evening. But my predictions have discounted for Dem Fraud.

[Guillermo]

Uh, when did I suggest that, you friggen moron?

[dhfnc]

Well,heck, just have him go down and vote again - that's what the Dems do!

I'm really worried that the Dems will do this

There is a database on the internet for all to see that has every registered voter in NC, where he/she votes, political party, etc. Also, you can view a history of voter - what elections he voted in and how (absentee, in person).I found this and could look up anyone by name - the birth date is not required.

According to my understanding, on election day,at different times during the day, the poll workers will give a list to the parties of who has not voted, with the idea they are going to call the people. From what I have heard, these people look up the history and close to closing time will send bus loads of people to vote for these people.

Have you heard anything about this?

[votelife]

Good to hear it! I've been campaigning for Jeb this past weekend. Even went into a seemingly heavy minority precint and held my Jeb sign today. I'll be back with the Jeb sign later. But it's good to hear about Wolfe. Keep working hard!

[Stefan Stackhouse]

I voted (straight R) a little over an hour ago here in WNC, I was only # 274 in our precinct -- the poll workers said that it was a little below normal. It is really bad weather here today, cold and rainy. Our polulation is considerably older than the national or state averages, possibly a lot of them have simply decided not to go out in the weather. Since a lot of those older voters are AARP/FDR/knee-jerk Dems, that might be a good thing.

[HanneyBean]

Voted this morning in Forsyth Co. around 7:50 a.m. and the line was out the door. My precinct is heavily Republican. Voted straight Republican ticket although Liddy doesn't do much for me but she's 100 times preferable to Irksome Bowels (aka Icabod Crane in pinstripes).

Richard Burr (our 5th district congressman) will win handily. He's a fine man. I wanted him to run for the Senate seat but I don't think he'd have been able to prevail against Irksome in the long run.

This is going to be a nail biting night. If I wasn't so sure of massive RAT fraud, I'd feel more confident about the Senate seats going Republican.
Those loathsome cretins will do ANYTHING to keep the Senate.

[Inspectorette]

Whoa!!! I can't imagine a database like that! I would think that it violates some type of privacy act. If this is true, I think it should be challened in court .

[dhfnc]

http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/voterweb/seimsvot.htm

[Prolifeconservative]

Why do you mourn democracy? High turnout is great, as long as it's legal! What do you fear? I like the Republican's chances...we are going to rock the political world tonight.

[Guillermo]

High turnout is a bad thing.

Hitlers Nazi Party won a large plurality in 1933 with 90%+ turnout.

Low turnout means that politics and government has less of an impact on peoples lives. This means Government is limited.

High turnout can mean two things: the election outcome is life/death or that voters are uninformed.

Do you think that Democratic operatives, driving busses from the projects to the precincts all day long, telling their riders to vote Democratic is a good thing?