Virginia experienced record voter turnout at polls across the commonwealth yesterday despite equipment problems early in the day, according to a press release issued by Susan Pollard, director of communications for the Virginia State Board of Elections.
As of 2 a.m. today, total voter turnout figures were unavailable, as only 97.83 percent of precincts had reported their polling data. In those precincts, though, 3,382,652 voters — of the 5,034,660 total voters in the commonwealth — had cast ballots in the presidential race, according to the State Board of Elections Web site. The most recently released data regarding absentee voting states that 466,204 absentee ballots were received by commonwealth localities, and 308,386 in-person absentee ballots were cast as of Monday.
The Charlottesville Office of Voter Registration reported that 19,950 total votes were cast Tuesday, accounting for 69.57 percent of eligible voters in the city. Another 3,621 absentee ballots were submitted, according to the Office of Voter Registration.
According to the Board Web site, 50,927 of 67,259 registered voters in Albemarle County voted Tuesday, which represents 75.71 percent of registered voters.
Election Protection spokesperson Matt Steinfield noted that various polling places experienced machine malfunctions, a problem that was aggravated by a larger than normal voter turnout.
“There have been a lot of small things that have caused a pretty big maelstrom this morning,” Steinfield said.
Corinne Geller, a volunteer media representative for the Board reported that the majority of the machine malfunctions occurred as a result of voters coming in wet from the rain. Geller, however, noted that the problem was solved by asking voters to dry their hands before voting. Geller added that individuals whose ballots might have been damaged were given official paper ballots.
Steinfield added, however, that Election Protection officials are concerned that many voters left polls before voting because of the long lines caused by machine malfunctions and large voter turnout.
“Hopefully after this election we won’t see these problem crop up again,” Steinfield said.
Dianne Gilliland, deputy registrar for the Charlottesville Office of Voter Registration, said many of the reported problems were not equipment malfunctions but rather voters “in the wrong precincts, people not knowing where they were registered and people registered in the wrong state even.”
Steinfield said he conjectured that some of the problems encountered by polling places arose because this election marks Virginia’s first time in the national spotlight in such a crucial presidential election.
Both Alumni Hall and University Hall reported a large turnout when the polling places opened at 6 a.m.
Joyce Kerns, assistant chief election official at University Hall, said there were 40 or 50 voters waiting in line when the building first opened. She added that she was surprised at the early turnout, saying that although she has worked there for many years, she has “never had people waiting in line at 6 o’clock in the morning.”
Observers noted that lines at both Alumni Hall and University Hall were surprisingly short come early afternoon.
John Feminella, a 2005 University alumnus who voted at Alumni Hall, said the lines were short and he only waited for three minutes. Second-year College student Whitney Highlander also voted at Alumni Hall and reported that she experienced similarly short lines and waited only about a minute before voting.
Alumni Hall precinct chief Tim Snyder noted that the polling place was busier when it first opened and added that the longest wait was about 15 or 20 minutes.
Despite the convenience of unexpectedly short lines, some expressed concern.
Second-year Architecture student Mike Perry said he was “pleasantly surprised” to see that there were no lines at University Hall but was disappointed that more students were not there.
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