By Benita Heath | The Tribune
CHESAPEAKE — Marilyn Bradley has worked the polls in Lawrence County for 47 years and this morning turnout was a first for her.
“I have never seen this,” said Bradley who was manning the Union 5 precinct, one of two polls at the Chesapeake Elementary School. “This is totally new. I expected it to be heavy, but not this.”
About a half-hour after the polls opened at 6:30 a.m., 34 had voted. Normally, in those early hours, the count would be five or six, Bradley said.
Virginia Carroll, her counterpart at Union 2, reported a turnout just as heavy for that precinct with a turnout at least twice the number normally anticipated.
At the end of one of the lines was Steve Harris of Chesapeake who always votes early before he heads to work. Watching three lines snake across the gym floor and down the front wall, he just shook his head.
“This is the most I have seen. This blows me away,” he said.
Campaigning out in front of the school was County Commission hopeful Les Boggs on the Republican ticket. Boggs, who got there just before the doors opened, said about 40 were outside waiting to get in, with the line going into the parking lot.
Record turnouts are expected across the country as the fiercely fought presidential race between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama comes to an end. The race has been labeled historic and whoever is the victor, he will wear the mantle of being the first. It will be either the first African American to become the country’s leader or the oldest man to win the presidency. Another historic factor is the possibility of the first woman to become vice president.
Ohio remains a battleground state that both candidates deluged with campaign rallies, door-to-door stumping and sound bytes. Last minute polls debated the outcome with either candidate claiming the state.
About an hour into the day that will make history, the rush to vote had momentarily slowed at the two precincts stationed at Ohio University Southern in Ironton. But poll workers were counting it as a temporary lull.
“This is the first time we’ve been this quiet (today),” Eva Drummond said as she looked at a room with less than a half-dozen voting. “We’ve been busy here. We just got a break.”
Kandee Hamilton estimated the turnout was at least double what is normal for that time of day.
“It has been really steady, continual,” Hamilton said.
Long lines are expected throughout the day until the polls close at 7:30 tonight.
At that time a worker from each precinct will stand in line as the cutoff for voting. However, anyone still in line can still cast a ballot.