Huge voter turnout in Nelson County

By Erin McGrath

Published: November 5, 2008

Check out a slideshow of photos from Election Day

Nearly half of registered voters at Nelson County precincts had turned out to cast ballots by midday, virtually ensuring that most would turn out by the end of the day.

Nelson County has 10,722 registered—- the most ever—- and 838 people voted by absentee ballot, also the most ever, according to Registrar Lisa Wooten.

“I think it’s going very, very well,” Wooten said, the phone at her office ringing constantly. “Everything seems to be working. So far, so good.”

At the Lovingston Fire Department, voters trickled in, but the pace was considered brisk.

“A whole lot more voted now than in the last election,” said precinct worker Wally Goode, who sprayed the handle of the door to prevent it from sticking.

Darlene Edinbourgh, chief of the Lovingston precint, said almost half the registered voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The line stretched out into the parking lot when the polls opened at 6 a.m. at the Rockfish Valley Volunteer Fire Department, but had slowed significantly by lunch time.

The Nellysford precinct at the Tuckahoe Preschool in Stoney Creek had a similar turnout.

“We’ve had a great turnout so far,” said precinct chief John Murphy. Of the 1,800 voters in the precinct, 949 voted by 1 p.m., he said.

Murphy said the only time a line formed was while the poll volunteers took a lunch break.

Jessie Carter, a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama, took her 7-week old daughter, Josephine May Carter, to the polls with her.

“I think its our duty and privilege as citizens to vote,” Carter said.

Stan Holland, 90, couldn’t remember the name of the first presidential candidate he voted for but knew who he was voting for on Tuesday.

“Straight Republican,” Holland said.