Mount Vernon Polling Places See Large Voter Turnout
Voters waited on long lines to cast their ballots.
Photos
UPDATE (Nov. 6, 4:33 p.m.): As of 4:30 p.m, Riverside precinct saw 1247 voters. Chief election officer Roger Adams doesn't have prediction as to how many people will come in during the after-work rush, just that there are more voters coming in.
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Mount Vernon precincts saw a high voter turnout on Election Day.
Woodley precinct reported 606 votes out of 3100 registered voters as of 10 a.m. Chief election officer Linda Berg said that the morning was running smoothly with a steady stream of voters waiting on line to cast their ballots.
"It's been very busy, very steady," Berg told Patch. "We hope the rest of the day goes smoothly. Everyone's been very patient."
Riverside Elementary School was bustling with activity on Tuesday morning. Voters waited on line to cast their vote. Riverside precinct reported 540 votes out of 2220 registered voters as of 9:45 a.m. Chief election officer Roger Adams told Patch that turnout was very steady.
Volunteers Robert Schwenk and Jim Savage stood outside Riverside Elementary School bundled in red jackets, talking politics. Although Schwenk and Savage are from opposite sides of the political spectrum, they held a lively, civil conversation while keeping warm that morning.
"This gentleman is listening to me and I'm listening to him," Republican volunteer Schwenk said. "This is the way the process should work."
Obama for America campaign volunteers Marianne Ketels and Rosalyn Porter were posted outside Woodley Hills Elementary School. Both women felt they needed to make a difference beyond casting a ballot.
"I just feel very passionately about re-electing President Obama and I felt that beyond voting, I had to make sure he got reelected," Porter said.
"I feel it's crucial for the welfare of our country to reelect Obama," Ketels added."I'm afraid if we elect Governor Romney, we'd just be going backwards."
Republican committee volunteer Stasia Rhoads has volunteered in different capacities on Election Day for more than 20 years. She was also stationed at Woodley Hills Elementary School.
"We just need to get volunteers out there and it's important," Rhoads said.
Carlos H
1:57 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Mt Vernon Woods, today was the worst voting experience I have ever had at this location! Confusion, machines broke down, only 3 working; waited for just over 2 hours. Finally someone came around to the snaking lines and told us paper ballots were now available! WOW how nice! evil old lady checked me in and didn't know where to send me to vote. Total confusion, Come on Election board, you must do better than this!!
Andrea U.
5:29 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I was at Mt. Vernon Woods too and I feel the same way! It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes and finally voted with paper ballot in 10 seconds! Very frustrating since I had to go back to work and was exhausted by then.
T Ailshire
2:43 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
I was in line in front of a guy who spent over 2 hours in a line at the wrong polling place. Hadn't we ALL been told MANY times this season to check our polling place, as some had changed?????
Martin Tillett
11:23 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The Belle Haven Precinct had initially heavy turnout and then steady turnout went smoothly as far as I could see. Everyone was civil and helpful when typical problems arose. Overall, the election officials were organized and helpful.