Polls Close; NC Election Officials Worry About Low Voter Turnout

Election officials worried that postponing the primary from itsoriginal May 7 date would mean light turnout at the polls, and theynoted low participation in early and absentee voting.

But they said Tuesday afternoon that voters in the Outer Bankswere largely undeterred.

Two polling places on Cape Hatteras were forced to close aboutan hour early due to flooding. Melva Garrison, director of the DareCounty Board of Elections, said the stations in Hatteras Villageand Frisco closed at about 6:15 as rain from Tropical Storm Gustavcollected around the buildings.

She said election officials were trying to make arrangements tohave those ballots counted elsewhere and included in vote totalsreported Tuesday night.

Johnnie McLean, deputy director of the state Board of Elections,said election officials on Ocracoke Island stacked sand bags aroundthe building where the polling place had been set up and kept ongoing.

"I heard from the people in Ocracoke. The water is rising, butthe people are coming right in anyway," McLean said. "Those folksout there are pretty hardy and elections people are pretty hardytoo. They are going to do what they need to do to get the jobdone."

McLean said some candidates and residents had called stateelection officials Monday to discuss possibly delaying the electionbecause of the storm.

Local election officials wanted to move ahead, she said.

More substantial problems were taking place in Robeson County,where ballot tabulating machines were not working when polls openedTuesday.

Machines at 10 of the 41 precincts were working by midmorning,but ballots were being stored and would have to be hand counted inthe remaining 31, McLean said.

Campaign officials for Democratic Senate candidate Dan Blue wereespecially upset by the problems.

"For obvious reasons, this is a great concern to us," saidBlue spokesman Cecil Cahoon. "This is the largest minority countyin the state. This is Dan Blue's home county."

The primary was delayed because of a court challenge to redrawnstate legislative districts.

"Unfortunately, it seems that even though we have had thissurge of patriotism, it has not translated into a surge of voterparticipation," state Elections Director Gary Bartlett said.

Voters appeared to be confused because of the redistricting,particularly in the U.S. Congressional races, said Jane Marshall,who worked the election station at Covenant Presbyterian Church inWinston-Salem. Some people weren't sure who to vote for in theirnew districts, she said.

Still, turnout appeared to be on track with previous primary andgeneral elections, she said.

Johnston and Wake counties saw lower turnout in the morning.

Eighty-three people had cast ballots by 8:15 a.m. at FarmingtonWoods Elementary School in Cary.

Robert and Ruby Powell said they chose Elizabeth Dole in theRepublican primary because of her experience.

"I felt she was more qualified and more conservative," RobertPowell said. "I think she can get more done."

Lisa Bright, 48, of Cary said she also chose Dole after acareful examination of issues including abortion. Bright said sheliked Dole's anti-abortion stance.

"I do see eye-to-eye with her on the issues," said Bright, ahomemaker.

Dole's chances to win in November also played a strong role inher vote. "If you're voting for someone who doesn't have a goodchance of winning ... it's almost a thrown-away vote," Brightsaid.

North Carolina's primary turnout in non-presidential yearstraditionally has been around 20 percent of registered voters. Justbefore to the primary, almost 5 million people were registered tovote in races ranging from sheriff to state legislator to U.S.House and Senate.

The major race in the state is for the U.S. Senate seat beingvacated by longtime Senator Jesse Helms.

Helms will retire in January. Elizabeth Dole is the front-runner for the Republican nomination, while Erskine Bowles, Dan Blue and Elaine Marshall are considered the Democratic front-runners.

Voters also chose who will run to represent the state's new 13th district in November.

The general election is November 5.