Early Numbers Indicate Average Turnout

By Tim Richardson

Originally published at 1:03 p.m., November 6, 2007
Updated at 5:17 p.m., November 6, 2007

Turnout will probably be close to average today for a general election in Loudoun County, general registrar Judy Brown said early this evening.

"It's kind of on target with the elections we've had in the past," she said. "It's similar to that."

Brown said she expects about 30 percent of Loudoun's 159,383 registered voters to cast a ballot today. The polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.

According to numbers reported between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. today, 24 percent of registered voters in the Sanders Corner precinct had cast a ballot. That number was 28 percent in Middleburg, 24 percent in Aldie and 25 percent in west Lovettsville, Brown said.

Ashburn's Cedar Lane precinct had a 20 percent turnout early this evening and Belmont Ridge had a 27 percent turnout.

"I honestly believe it will be about average," Brown said of turnout. "It's surprising when you're in the election business that more people don't come out and vote."

Brown said elections involving local races – as opposed to presidential elections – tend to draw fewer people.

"If the weather holds up, we'll be fine," Brown said earlier this afternoon.

For the most part, the weather did cooperate. The National Weather Service office in Sterling said the high reached the middle 50s this afternoon at Dulles International Airport before temperatures started to slide.

Winds were from the west at 16 to 18 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, forecasters said.

Dulles International Airport picked up 0.05 inches of rain early this morning as the polls were opening across Loudoun, although no more rain is expected today.

Brown said activity at polling places increased after this morning's rain.

"Things are kind of picking up," she said.

Visit LoudounExtra.com tonight for updated election coverage and results.

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