By Howard Greninger
TERRE HAUTE — Voters formed lines early today at the polls in Vigo County, where many workers reported several hundred people cast ballots, yet most sites did not have long delays, officials say.
“We visited about 25 different precincts and even after the early rush, in the period from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., when there is a usual lull, there has been a steady vote, always with someone voting,” said Richard Shagley Jr., the Democrat assistant on the Vigo County Election Board.
“There has been no problems inside or outside the polls, but we are expecting a heavy voter turnout,” he said.
One difference in this election, Shagley said, is the large number of poll watchers, specifically Obama poll watchers, he said. The watchers are in at least half the polling precincts, he said.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had this kind of attention before, at least never had this interest from the outside. A lot of the watchers are attorneys, to make sure people’s voting rights are protected,” Shagley said. “The Obama campaign made a conscious effort not to challenge any voters, they are collecting data on the amount of votes and who, I think, to work with their get-out-the-vote campaign.”
Some of the watchers are local attorneys, such as former county judges Dexter Bolin and Jerry Kearns, he said.
Vigo County Clerk Pat Mansard said three machines — two optical scanners and one touch handicapped screen — had early problems, but were replaced with different machines prior to the polls opening.
One precinct, at the Terre Haute Housing Authority on North 19th Street, had an inspector show up late, requiring extra assistance to get voting machines operating, which was also done before the poll opened at 6 a.m., Mansard said.
“It has been good for us, not anything real exciting,” she said.
Mansard said about 14 students at Indiana State University had problems complying with the state’s photo ID law. “It is a ‘Catch 22’ so to speak for them, because they need to stay on their parent’s insurance, so they need to keep their driver’s license from those states, but are living here now. There is no fraud involved, but some are denied the right to vote,” she said.
Others, who cast a provisional ballot, must provide the state-required identification by noon Nov. 14.
WABASH VALLEY ROUNDUP
Early voter turnout unusually high in Vermillion County
Voter turnout has been unusually high so far today in Vermillion County, an election official said this afternoon.
Around 860 people voted early in the mostly rural county and many precincts had more than 100 ballots cast by 10 a.m. today, the official said.
Some problems with voting machines occurred early in the day in Vermillion County, but no voters were prevented from casting ballots and there were no problems further reported by early this afternoon, the official said.
Vermillion County has just one countywide contested race on the ballot. Political party officials said interest in the presidential race is driving voter participation.
Voting process uneventful in Parke County
Parke County voters today are enjoying an uneventful Election Day as far as the voting process, according to officials.
Kim Shorter, Parke County clerk, said as of about 4 p.m., everything had gone “just swell.”
No issues have arisen at any of the polling locations, and Shorter doesn’t anticipate any problems.
“Knock on wood!” she said with a laugh.
“Basically, people are just calling to find out where they’re registered to vote.”
As for voter turnout numbers, Shorter said they won’t be available until about 8 p.m.
Voting steady throughout day in Clay County
A spokeswoman for the Clay County Election Office said mid-afternoon Tuesday that voting was “pretty steady” throughout Brazil all day, and “some pretty good lines” had awaited voters at the rural polls early in the morning.
Officials expect lines to pick up again in the later afternoon once people get off work, however between three and four times the absentee and early voters already had cast ballots earlier.
“There isn’t going to be anyone left to vote at the polls,” she joked.
By afternoon, no problems at the Clay County polls had been reported, she said.
Heavy morning turnout in Sullivan County
Voter turnout has been heavy in Sullivan County, said Shelly Hiatt Parris, county clerk. It was especially heavy in the morning as people went to work, and she expects it to pick up after people finish work. “We’ve had lines, but nothing out the door,” she said.
She noted that absentee voting has been “really heavy” this year, with 1,382 walk-ins. “There’s big interest in the presidential elections,” she said.
She reported no problems at voting sites, although her office has taken a number of calls from people wanting to know if they are registered to vote and where they should vote.
No major problems at Clark County, Ill., polls
Clark County, Ill., clerk Bill Downey knocked on wood as he reported no major problems with voting so far today.
He said the problem voting officials encountered the most is with voters who’ve moved and forgot to change their address with the office to get a new polling location. Machines are running fine, he said.
Downey said if they had closed the doors at lunch for voting, they would have close to 50 percent voter turnout. There was around 65 percent turnout for the last presidential election, he said.
Lines are moving steadily also, he said with just five to six people waiting. He expects longer lines as people get off of work, but doesn’t think the wait will exceed 15 minutes.
There are two local contested races in Clark County — Circuit Clerk and County Board District 7. Polls will remain open until 7 p.m.
Polling sites busy in Edgar County, Ill.
Though polling sites have been busy in Edgar County, Ill., precinct judges have yet to report any issues.
County clerk Becky Kramer said if the amount of early absentee votes the office received is any indication of today’s turnout, she expects a “great percentage of voting today.”
Close to 1,500 people voted before today, she said, noting this was the first presidential election for early voting, or “no excuse” absentee.
The only problems reported have been minor, she said such as voters not knowing what precinct they should vote at or things not printing out right. She said the clerk’s office also has been busy fielding numerous phone calls.
There are no local contested races in Edgar County, but some areas do have referendums to vote on. Polls are open in Illinois until 7 p.m.
