Voters had good cheer, perseverance
Neither long lines nor drizzly weather deterred Lowcountry residents from polls
By David Slade , Glenn Smith
AP
Supporters of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama are jubilant during an election-night party Tueaday at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
A study in patience, soggy and stoic Lowcountry voters endured waits of up to five hours Tuesday to cast their votes in an election many considered the most important of their lifetime.
Most shrugged off the drizzle and delays, saying they were duty-bound to cast their ballots. They opened umbrellas, paged through books, made new friends. The mood remained surprisingly cheerful.
"In some countries, you wait this long for toilet paper and bread," said 31-year-old Jeff Yurfest, who waited three hours at Alhambra Hall in Mount Pleasant.
Voters swarmed to polling places early, some showing up before the poll workers. The line snaked around the corner of Charleston's Burke High School at 5:15 a.m. and stayed steady.
"They were a formidable group, they were to be reckoned with and they didn't stop coming," Burke poll manager Barbara G. Holmes said.
While the lines of voters at Burke had slowed to a trickle by the time polls closed at 7 p.m., other sites were still under siege. At College Park Middle School in Ladson and Goose Creek High School, hundreds reportedly still waited more than an hour after polls closed.
State election officials projected the turnout could set a new record, which didn't surprise many. "This is the biggest election I've ever seen, and I've worked every one since Jimmy Carter got elected," said Wanda Browder, a poll manager at West Ashley High School.
The day was not without problems.
More than 70 voters waited in line at West Ashley Middle School, the precinct listed on their registration cards, only to learn that they were actually supposed to vote miles away at the Jewish Community Center. Some grew angry, and police were called. Authorities arranged transportation to get the voters to the proper spot, Eugenia Felder, precinct clerk at the Jewish center said.
Reports also surfaced of College of Charleston students turned away from some polling places when they presented student ID cards for identification. That issue was later resolved, College of Charleston Dean of Students Jeri Cabot said.
Several precincts in Charleston County had problems with individual voting machines, including Joseph Floyd Manor in Charleston, where waits approached five hours.
"I've only seen one person drop out," said Gustavious Simmons, who waited four hours.
The problems inspired grumbling but also good will. At Goose Creek High School, people passed out crackers and water to tired voters. And at the W.L. Stephens Aquatic Center in West Ashley, those enduring a four-hour wait applauded each person who emerged with an "I Voted" sticker.
In Charleston, a young Canadian woman brought chocolate-chip cookies to voters stuck in a three-hour line outside the Moultrie Playground. "I can't vote, so this is how I'll do my part," said Emily Cooney, 25.
Adam Parker, Jessica Johnson and Noah Haglund contributed to this story. Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
kontact (anonymous) says...
jane, evilgenius, et al...-HA HA HA. Are yall ok? Yall left the country yet? Seriously I hope not cause as much as I voted for Obama we NEED yall to balance the govt. Anyone with too much power can easily be corrupted.So no we dont want yall to leave--Not just yet anyway!!!
November 5, 2008 at 1:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekguy2008 (anonymous) says...
I just can't get that "Jefferson's" song out of my head.
Moving on up............
November 5, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForPnC (anonymous) says...
Congrats Obama!
November 5, 2008 at 3:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
missc (anonymous) says...
Yes we moving on up to the WHITEHOUSE. CONGRATULATIONS OBAMA
November 5, 2008 at 6 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concern (anonymous) says...
Even if every black in the USA had voted for Obama, it would not have been enough to elect him, but The AMERICAN PEOPLE voted and that is all I have to say!!!!
Congratulations President-elect Barack Obama!!!!
November 5, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
My wife, daughter (her first election) and I waited 4 hours and 15 minutes at College Park Middle School (Stratford District 4). The amazing thing was that the first half of the alphabet had a 4 hour wait while the second half of the alphabet for the same district had no wait at all. I still can't figure that one out. As far as I know, there is only one polling place per district, so I guess either my entire area has last names beginning with the letters in the first half of the alphabet, or the people with last names beginning in the second half of the alphabet didn't vote. It makes no sense.
Regardless, everyone was in a good mood and I didn't see one single person leave without voting.
November 5, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
R_U_Kidding_Me (anonymous) says...
Regardless of the outcome of this election, we can thank G.W. Bush for the record turnout to vote. It's good to get this many Americans off their apathetic butts.
November 5, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
kontact, while my opinions during the election differed from yours, I'll be the first to say that at least you expressed your opinions like an intelligent person. Thank you.
November 5, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I waited in line at Ladson Elemetary for 3 hours. When I left work I said I will use the ladies room first and it seem like as soon as I saw the line, mother nature started calling for me. I just did the dance and stayed in line. I heard Goose Creek line was just crazy while SHS was 20-30 minutes.
November 5, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
I moved and forgot to change address with Voters Registration office. So yesterday I went to Moncks Corner to the VR office and got there at around 4 pm. With drive time to and from (I live in Summerville) and the wait to change address and actually vote it only took me and hour and ten minutes. If I went to the polling place I was assigned it would have been a 3-4 hour wait. The lady who assisted me told me on Saturday they stopped the line at 1 pm. The last voter voted at 7 pm. They had processed over 10,000 voters over the past couple of weeks and that doesn't include the MAILED IN absentee ballots.
Yes, the turnout was huge.
November 5, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
johnnyreb (anonymous) says...
I know that voting is my civic duty, but I didn't know it would be such an ordeal. I arrived at Goose Creek #2 at 10:10 am and when I pressed the vote button it was exactly 2:10 pm. Bummer, it sure took all the fun out of it. Even though everyone was in a good mood, despite the long line and slow pace. Maybe the election officials will consider creating a new precinct or moving some of #2 to Goose Creek #1 which had little or no line at all. :-(
November 5, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jca (anonymous) says...
all that matters was the lines at polls were peaceful
i waited for 2 and a half hours not bad compared to other locations
i am prescient 29 and was surrounded by very pleasant people
November 5, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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