Morning Voter Turnout Slow but Steady

Area residents with stickers reading "I Voted" were already trickling out of the gymnasium at Rose Hill Elementary School at 6:05 a.m. today, having just cast their votes in the Eighth District Congressional Election.

Election officials at Rose Hill Elementary School, Clermont Elementary School and Cameron Elementary School said voter turnout had been slow but steady. A substantial line had formed at Rose Hill just after 6 a.m., and officials at Clermont reported they had also had a line around the same time. These lines tapered off over the course of the morning.

Bridget Washlack, chief election officer at Clermont Elementary School, said the turnout had been constant throughout the morning. Washlack was an election officer during the last midterm election in 2006, and said this year's morning turnout had been comparable. "It's usually constant in the mornings," she said.

Many voters declined to be interviewed by Patch writers, but the votes of citizens willing to speak varied between Democratic incumbent Jim Moran and Patrick Murray, his Republican challenger.

"I voted Republican, for Patrick Murray," said Canning Kraft, a retired member of the U.S. Army and resident of the Clermont area for more than 20 years. Kraft also voted for the transportation bond referendum and tax relief for seniors, he said.

Another voter, a government employee who chose not to give her name, said she voted for Moran. "He's done good things in the past and he'll continue to do so," she said.

Other voters shared her sentiments. "I voted for Jim Moran," said another who also wished to remain anonymous. "He's done a good job for the local area."

But some were not as open to the idea of Moran staying in office. "I voted for anybody who's not a Democrat," said one voter at Clermont Elementary.

Sharon McNeil, the chief election officer at Cameron Elementary, said the precinct's turnout had been moderate. "About 20 people were here this morning," she said, "but this is a small precinct." As of 8 a.m., McNeil said the precinct had counted about 100 votes.

As of 9 a.m., Rose Hill Elementary had counted 500 votes. 

Rose Hill Patch will be reporting on the election throughout the day. Please check back for updated coverage.