Area voters didn”t let the inclement weather keep them from the polls Tuesday. Lowndes County voting precincts reported steady traffic throughout the day, despite periods of rainfall.
And aside from the usual Election Day mayhem — voters showing up at the wrong sites, candidates” workers too close to polling places and malfunctioning equipment — voting went smoothly, officials said.
“We had our biggest flow this morning before the rain,” Judith Rudder, a poll watcher at Union Academy, said Tuesday.
By 2:20 p.m., traffic had slowed down a bit.
“We had more when it was pouring down than we do now,” said Ruby Anderson, a bailiff at Union, who noted the precinct had one curbside voter. Curbside voting is offered to handicapped voters.
By the end of the day, a total of 17,591 out of 40,111 active registered voters cast ballots in Lowndes County, including 1,253 absentee ballots.
“It”s important,” Sallie Simpson said of voting, after she cast her ballot at Union. “If we made a change with the president, we can make a change with this election if everyone just comes out and votes.”
Simpson and her daughter, Jessica Egnew, both want to see unity in the Democratic Party.
“Until they get together, we”ll be stuck between messed up and halfway fixed up,” Egnew said. “Everyone wants to blame Barack (Obama), but he can”t do it by himself.”
Maye Robinson agreed voting is an important civic duty.
“And you can”t complain if you don”t vote,” she added.
Of negative campaigning in the 1st Congressional District race, Robinson said, “it has not changed my strong opinion on how I wanted to vote.”
“I”ve never just watched the negative stuff that Nunnelee and Childers have to say,” said Diane Webb. “I choose for myself who I think would be a better candidate.”
At Brandon, around 2:50 p.m., poll workers already had worked a handful of curbside votes in the rain and were preparing for another.
“As soon as we dry off, we go (back) out into the rain to let someone vote. But that”s OK. We”re glad to do that,” smiled Nancy Landrum, operating manager at the Brandon voting precinct, as she prepared for another curbside vote.
“It”s been busy,” said Robert Borden, a poll worker. “It”s a lot busier than we”ve seen in the past.”
Borden attributed the high voter turnout to “Obama”s agenda.”
“It”s forced them out to vote,” he said.
At least one voter at Brandon validated Borden”s summation.
“I want to see the Republicans take over Congress,” said Rosemarie Brooks. “I want to see somebody (revoke) these things Obama has passed.”
Whitney Hicks said she is ready “just for change.”
“Hopefully, all the right people will get picked,” she said. “I”m just hoping we get the right people in.”
“I hope there will be a new respect for the Democrats,” said Dennis Miller, who was voting at Columbus High. “They say we don”t vote in the rain.”
“I”m hoping the Democrats hold onto those seats in the House of Representatives,” said Thomas Brown, “so the president can carry on his agenda.”
While Brown”s hopes would be dashed, at about 4:30 p.m. when he was voting, Brown was just glad to be a part of the election process.
“It”s important to be a part of the process,” he said. “It”s too many people who died to stand up for my right to vote.”
Ann Buckhalter, a poll worker at Columbus High, said voter turnout was “steady all day” and had gone “like clockwork.”
Lowndes County started the day with poll workers setting off a breaker at Mitchell and some printers that wouldn”t work. But the election ran smoothly from there, Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar said.
In Oktibbeha County, 10,543 of 24,807 active registered voters cast ballots, including more than 600 absentee ballots.
In Clay County, 7,863 of 13,084 active registered voters cast ballots, including 595 absentee ballots.
Circuit clerks” offices in Oktibbeha and Clay said the election process went without a hitch.
Affidavit ballots still remain to be checked and counted before official results are released.
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