Voters await their turn in what poll workers estimated to be about a 45 minute line at some points Tuesday at Niles Township Precinct 4 in Evangelical Free Church in Niles to vote in the general election. (Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON)
Story Created:
Nov 4, 2008 at 12:47 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 4, 2008 at 1:35 PM EST
SOUTH BEND — Many local county clerks and election officials say that their voting locations are seeing heavy, steady traffic.
“It seems that we’re getting a pretty substantial turnout,” said Wayne Kramer, Elkhart election board chairman. “I suspect that things will be steady all day long.”
As of 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Elkhart, Fulton, Marshall, Pulaski, and Starke counties report heavy numbers.
Marshall County Clerk Julie Fox is particularly impressed with voter turnout.
“I’d say we are much busier than we were during the 2004 general election,” she said.
Marilyn Rzeszewski, inspector of a west-side precinct in South Bend, has been working the polls for 40 years. She says she can’t remember an election where the turnout was this steady, this early.
"There was a line of about 20 people when we opened this morning at 6," she said, "and since then we’ve had a steady flow in and out."
The precinct had tallied 104 votes as of 8:38 a.m. Rzeszewski expected, however, that the biggest influx was yet to come.
"I expect it around 4 or 5 o’clock," she said. "This is a working-class neighborhood and I think some people didn’t come this morning because they thought they weren’t going to get to work on time."
WSBT viewer Marty Werling reported that his Granger polling station was packed by the time it opened, but he was able to vote and leave within 23 minutes.
County clerks and officials say that things, for the most part, are running smoothly. Besides what they say are the usual minor glitches, poll workers are efficiently handling what may turn out to be a record-setting election.
Todd Rokita, Indiana’s secretary of state, wants voters to plan to get to the polls no later than 3 p.m. to make sure there is not a rush of voters in line at the last second.
The polls officially close at 6 p.m. Tuesday night in Indiana. But people in line by the deadline will be allowed to vote.
And a reminder: Michigan polls stay open until 8 p.m.
The South Bend Tribune contributed to this report.
