Election turnout hit 50 percent by noon in some locations

By Ray Reed

Published: November 4, 2008

Election turnout has been so heavy in the Lynchburg area today that many voter registrars have been too busy to check on how heavy it really is.

That was the case in Campbell County and Amherst County.

But in Bedford County and Lynchburg, turnout reached 50 percent of the registered voters by noon.

“I’m hoping we’ll get to 80 or 85 percent” turnout, said Lynchburg registrar Pat Bower. Only 69 percent of voters turned out in the last presidential election in 2004 in Lynchburg.

Lynchburg had many cases of people who expected to be on the voting rolls and were not, Bowers said. In some cases, those voters’ registrations could be verified, and the people were able to vote. But in other cases, there was no evidence the people had ever registered, Bower said.

“We’ve issued more provisional ballots than normal,“ she said, and the electoral board will decide Wednesday whether those ballots can be counted.

In Bedford County, registrar Barbara Gunter said the day has gone smoothly. In many precincts, half the registered voters had cast their ballots by noon. It usually takes until 3 p.m. to reach a 50 percent turnout, Gunter said.

“It has been a pleasant surprise,“ Gunter said. “We’ve been very busy, but there have been no disasters.“

Bedford’s longest lines were in the Goodview and Hardy precincts, where some voters had 40 minute waits early this morning, Gunter said.

In Amherst County, registrar Gary Beasley said his office received complaints from three precincts that voting machines were selecting the wrong candidates. Beasley said he sent a technician to each of the precincts, along with party representatives, to check on the machines.

They didn’t confirm finding any problems, and “they all seemed satisfied,“ Beasley said.

In Campbell County, registrar Karen Danos said her office was busy handling calls from precincts about people who showed up to vote at the wrong place.

Most people eventually got to vote, she said, although some whose registrations had expired lost out.