Area voters anxiously await results
Voters in Rockbridge County were concerned, excited, and nervous today as they left the polls at Highland Belle School, the county’s largest precinct with 1,626 registered voters.
Scott Belliveau, Chief of Elections in the Highland Belle Precinct, said that 32 people were already waiting in line when the polls opened at 6 a.m. this morning.
Since then, there has been a steady flow of voters, and it’s the highest volume of voters Belliveau has seen in his seven years working in the precinct.
Chelsea Riordan and Andy Painter are two young county residents who were able to vote for the first time today.
Painter is hoping to see a Republican victory, although he is concerned that Virginia is considered to be one of the swing states.
“I’m hoping to see McCain and Palin, but I guess it is kind of up in the air,” Painter said.
In her first presidential election, Riordan is voting for Barack Obama, an experience she described as exciting and liberating.
“I’ve heard a lot of different things, so I have no clue what’s really going to happen. I just hope that everyone votes for Barack,” Riordan said.
Other voters found themselves confused about whom to vote for. County resident Catherine Lindsay was more confused when she left the polls than when she went in.
“ I didn’t vote for who I thought I was going to vote for. I think it will be okay,” Lindsay said.
Another voter, Mary Ellen Kline, said she was tense awaiting tonight’s results.
“I don’t know if I can divulge [who I voted for] because if I get started I will be sorry I said anything,” Kline said.
Several voters said they are glad that Nov. 4 is finally here.
“I think it’s time to get on to doing what needs to be done with this country,” Susan Dunlap said.
Emogene Goodbar agrees.
“I’m glad it’s over, and I hope McCain gets it because we do not need Obama in there,” Goodbar said. “I think the ones that are going to vote for Obama are the ones that need the welfare help. We need a change, a new change, and I think that this will be for the best.”
Goodbar thinks that Rockbridge County will go Republican as it has in the past.
Wayne Johnston also predicts that Rockbridge County will go Republican, though he is less certain about whether Virginia as a whole will support McCain.
Johnston is doing his part to ensure Virginia supports McCain.
“I never vote for a Democrat,” Johnston said.
Belliveau expects the polls to remain crowded until closing time, at which point residents will gather to await the big results.
The Lexington Democratic Party will be hosting a party beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Sheridan Livery to watch the numbers come in.
The Lexington GOP will gather at its Main Street headquarters to watch the live results.
Produced by
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journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Luecke
Reporting Supervisors:
Prof. Doug Cumming
Prof. Indira Somani
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd