Excited throngs line up to vote

Turnout high in Charles this Election Day

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by JAY FRIESS Charles County voters wait patiently in line at Eva Turner Elementary School in Waldorf about 9:45 a.m. Election staff from all over the county reported high turnout at polling places. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Even a dreary, misty Election Day morning was not enough to dissuade thousands of Charles County residents from lining up early and standing in line for hours to participate in yesterday's historic presidential vote.

Voters brought lawn chairs, umbrellas and a positive attitude, helping election workers process thousands of ballots within the first hour of the polls 7 a.m. opening.

The line of voters at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, off Berry Road in Waldorf, was still almost wrapped around the building around 9 a.m., but voters said they didn't mind the wait despite the steady drizzle of rain.

"The line has moved consistently," Latara Fenwick said. "It's drizzling, but people are sharing their umbrellas."

"The line doesn't bother me," Jesse Owens said. "I'm young. I can stand awhile. I have all the time in the world."

John Parker and his daughter, Lynne, were sharing a few laughs while waiting to vote.

"We're having a ball," he said. "It doesn't bother me at all to stand in line. This election is historic. It's the first time that an African-American has [been a major party nominee] to be president of these United States and I'm going to vote for him."

Several hundred voters had already passed through the poll at T.C. Martin Elementary School in Bryantown by 9 a.m., leaving poll workers with a few hours to catch their breath.

Chief Democratic Election Judge Ivory Traynham said the poll had been "very busy," but complimented voters' patience.

"It's been extremely nice," Traynham said. "Lines are moving quickly. People are cooperating."

The scene was the same at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Waldorf at 9:30 a.m. Republican Election Judge Kelly Kitner said the poll had 300 to 400 people lined up "out into the parking lot" at 5:30 a.m., but the line moved very quickly.

"It's going well," Kitner said, but predicted that the evening rush would be large as well. "I think we'll be busy until we shut the doors."

Voting was still going at a fever pitch at Eva Turner Elementary School in Waldorf at 9:45 a.m., with cars parked along both sides of Bannister Circle and a line of voters wrapped around the building.

Anthony Wallace was standing in line near the entrance to the polls. He said he'd been there since 8 a.m., enduring what he called "a little mist." When asked why he decided to wait, he said, "We need some change."

Inside, Democratic Judge Pat Padgett was watching the voting process. She said, "I got here 25 minutes of 6 a.m., and the parking lot was full. It never stopped."

Republican Judge Lauren Sanford said the process was going smoothly, adding, "Everyone's so friendly. … The line is constantly moving. It's just long."

By around 10 a.m., a line of voters that wound around Westlake High School on Middletown Road in Waldorf was reduced to just a few people standing outside the door.

The turnout at the precinct was astounding, said Marilyn Miller, chief judge, adding that 882 people had voted by 9:15 a.m.

"The turnout has been awesome," she said. "We had people wrapped around the building early this morning."

Tom Crosby said he forced himself to vote even though he is having a medical problem with his legs that forces him to use a walker.

"Voting is something that you have to do," he said. "I served in the Marine Corps and I know that this is a really important election. I knew that I had to go out and vote."

Election judges at the Wakefield Neighborhood Center in Waldorf said they had processed 500 voters by 10 a.m., including a 300-voter early morning rush.

"I'm proud of my staff," said Democratic Election Judge Diane Cooks. "Everybody is on top of it."

Traditionally a quiet polling place, the parking lot of the Moose Family Center on U.S. 301 in White Plains was jammed and voters were forced to park their vehicles along the sides of the highway.

Vicki Johnson, chief election judge, said that voters were lined up along U.S. 301 when the precinct first opened.

"People were lined up all the way down [U.S.] 301; it was exciting," she said. "Turnout has been very heavy."

jfriess@somdnews.com