Large voter turnout reported

[TomClash]

Source: Manchester Union Leader

Large voter turnout reported

By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
1 hour, 33 minutes ago

MANCHESTER – Long lines of people formed inside some polls this morning minutes after they opened at 6 a.m. for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

Louis Gosselin, Ward 6 moderator, said election officials expected about 150 people to vote each hour at St. Pius X on Candia Road.

Instead, about 300 people each hour were casting ballots. By 8 a.m., 602 people had voted. About 70 new voters were registered.

"I believe if it continues this way we definitely will set a record," said Gosselin.

<snip>

"It's been very busy and it's only 6:20 a.m.," he said.

Inside, somewhat patient voters waited in a long line to cast their ballots. One man grumbled about the media being allowed inside.

"We've had big lines," Sheehan-Lord said. This is her second Presidential primary so, she said, she does not know if this is the biggest voter turnout ever.

"I don't know if we have had lines as long as this" but, she said, "This is big."

A little after 7 a.m. at Hillside Middle School, 288 Ward 2 residents had voted. A special election last spring brought out only 400 people, noted ward selectman Wayne Johnson.

On the city's West Side, by 7:20 a.m. 278 people had voted in Ward 12 at the Northwest Elementary School, according to selectman Gerard Brunelle. He said there was a long line when doors opened at 6 a.m. and it has been steady ever since.

Ward 11 Clerk Felice Goupil said by 7:45 a.m., 255 residents had voted and 22 new voters were registered at Gossler Park School.

"We're seeing a lot of

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Large+...

---

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Same thing happened in Iowa.

It is becoming obvious that Americans are waking up and see this presidential election year as crucial in saving our democracy and reinstating our Constitution.

[LeftCoast]

3. Yep, and twice as many Dems showed up as pubbies (in IA)

For the record, Dems only hold a slight registration advantage in Iowa. It will be interesting to see if republicans turn out in similarly low numbers in NH.

[TomClash]

4. I think that's right

Plus, people are nervous about the economy - from Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between.

[stillcool]

2. That's great...

Good for New Hampshire!

[Maribelle]

5. The corrupt republicans of NH are flocking in droves I see.

The New Hampshire Union Leader and many of the Wards in the Manchester area are big reds that gave us the corrupt Bush. They care for the political power of their republican party not the country.

On edit:

As their state turned from red to blue, thanks to the voters in southern NH, they shriveled even more in corruption getting, pass off the phone jamming crime as no big deal.

[Wcross]

6. I wish more people would participate in our democracy.

It's piss-poor that on election day we are lucky to get a 30% turnout.

[harmonicon]

9. yep, voting is awfully important

There should be some sort of system where we know that everyone who's eligible to vote has had a chance if they'd like to.

[Wcross]

10. We do need to be sure NOBODY is denied the right to vote either.

It has always puzzled me that there are long lines to vote at some polling places and at others you can walk in and not have to wait. I think we should add one more national holiday, election day.

[harmonicon]

14. Oh, yeah - of course. nt.

[DLnyc]

11. ? I think national elections typically get around 50%; still poor, but > 30.

[Wcross]

12. Yes, you are right for national elections.

I was thinking about the last election we had for senate, it was about 30% turnout.

[smalll]

7. Anyone know if there will be exit polls in NH?

So that we won't have to wait until 9 or 10 at night to find out how things are going?

Not surprised there's a heavy turnout - it's unusually warm here in the Northeast today. The Obama kids will literally be able to shuffle over to the polls in their flip-flops today, no problem.

[Kali]

13. "The Obama kids will literally be able to shuffle over to the polls in their flip-flops today, ..."

[Javaman]

8. I think which ever Democratic Candidate wins, they will show moron*

what a real mandate looks like. I predict landslide.

[Barrett808]

15. High turnout in crucial US vote

Source: BBC

Voters have been streaming into polling stations in the key New Hampshire presidential primary, fuelling expectations of a record turnout.
The state secretary, Bill Gardner, has predicted that at least half a million people will cast their ballots.

The first votes counted, and opinion polls, put Barack Obama and John McCain ahead in their respective races.

Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday.

Analysts say New Hampshire's large bloc of independents - about 45% of registered voters - could be key to swinging the primary, the second in a series of state-level votes and caucuses through which the parties choose their candidates for the US presidency.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7176163.stm

[Arugula Latte]

16. We have Bush to thank for one thing:

Big Backlash against him and his corrupt party.

[Yael]

21. Hes a uniter, don't ya know

[olddad56]

17. a rigged Presidental election will erase that backlash.

don't plan on a fair election come October. The 'powers that be' have too much to lose to leave the outcome of the election up to a nation of disgusted voters.

[merwin]

18. I don't expect that either Hillary or Obama would give up without a fight

if the elections are rigged.

I'm not so sure about Edwards, given his inaction the last time around.

[snappyturtle]

19. I so hope you're wrong but I'm afraid you're not. nt

[rockybelt]

20. What election?

These thugs have worked too long to gain the power they now have. I don't believe they are going to willingly give it up. Look for an incident, martial law and complete suspension of the Constitution along with cancelled elections. That is why they must be impeached before any elections, or selections, are held.

[harmonicon]

23. you know, I haven't seen this brought up before, but...

... what makes you think impeachment would make them leave office? They defy court orders and subpoenas all the time. They would just say "no, we're not impeached" and stay there. It's still the right thing to do, but if impeached, I don't think they'd leave.

[rockybelt]

25. I've been saying that all along

Ok, if they don't want to leave their offices, just put bars around the offices.

They, at least I believe, fully intend to have an "incident" on U.S. soil at which time the shrub will call martial law, suspend what remains of the Constitution and cancel elections.

Musharraf had a trial run for him and it worked pretty well.

To impeach AND CONVICT before that would make it awfully hard for them to remain. Although he does have his private army and news network.

I'm willing to try.

[Magleetis]

24. Right

The last two were rigged. I don't think that this one will be any different. We know the * admin was trying to rig it. I don't doubt that they have a couple of strategies that are undetected.

[endarkenment]

22. A great candidate will win on the D side, but more important

are the total R votes vs the total D votes. That will be a great predictor of where this swing state stand right now in the upcoming national contest. Hopefully, like Iowa, this is going to be the really bad news for the fascist theocratic party.

[trashcanistanista]

26. I was just about to post on this!

A few minutes ago CNN was reporting 85% turnout in one of the larger precincts I did not catch where. They ran out of ballots and had to have more brought in. This is unbelievable! Wonderful for the Democrats. People still pouring into precincts to vote at this last hour.