Loudoun Voters Help Shape 'Potomac Primary'

By Melissa Arseniuk, Cara McCoy

Originally published at 6:26 a.m., February 12, 2008
Updated at 6:29 p.m., February 12, 2008

Voters in Loudoun County cast ballots in the first-ever "Potomac Primary" today amid heavy turnout across the region.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. across Virginia, although Donna Gicker, who oversees 11 staff members at the Round Hill Center polling place, got to work at 3:15 a.m. The precinct has 3,515 registered voters, and as of 9:15 a.m., she said 10 percent had cast a ballot this morning.

"We've had heavier turnout, but the day is still young," she said.

Later in the morning at Sanders Corner Elementary in Ashburn, precinct chief Eric Barr said 400 people had voted as of 11:30 a.m. – a high number compared to previous elections, he said. Voting took place in a cramped music room at the school.

"It's been busy, steady. I wish we had more people to help out," he said. "Today is complicated because school is in session. We usually get to use the cafeteria but not today."

By noon, Stone Bridge High School had 455 voters pass through. Of those, 286 cast a vote for a Democrat, while 169 voted for a Republican.

Precinct chief Glenda Parsons said the turnout has been steady all day.

"We have had lines a couple of times -- not long ones, but lines," she said.

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Loudoun Votes 2008

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Purcellville resident Gene Minschew asks for a Republican ballot at Emerick Elementary School Tuesday morning. He cast his vote for Mike Huckabee. (Cara McCoy)

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A steady stream of cars flows into the parking lot at the Round Hill Center, one of Loudoun's primary polling locations. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Ashburn resident Karen Ficker braved the cold to pass out Barack Obama literature outside Sanders Corner Elementary School. (Scott Den Herder)

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A Frank Wolf supporter collects signatures outside Round Hill Center. (Cara McCoy)

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Round Hill resident Robert Lowery campaigns for Republican candidate Ron Paul outside the Round Hill Center. (Cara McCoy)

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Residents make their way to the polling station in Round Hill to cast their ballots in Tuesday's presidential primaries. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Campaigners wait and rally outside the polling station in Round Hill in an effort to sway undecided voters. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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A sign points the way to the Round Hill Center polling place. (Cara McCoy)

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Voters wait in line Tuesday to get ballots for the presidential primaries. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Voters prepare to vote in Round Hill. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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A Barack Obama supporter, left, talks to voters outside a Leesburg polling station Tuesday morning. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Residents wait in line in Leesburg Tuesday as they prepare to cast ballots in the presidential primary election. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Precinct workers greet voters in Leesburg Tuesday morning. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Leesburg residents file into polling places Tuesday to cast their vote. (Melissa Arseniuk)

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Just after 2 p.m. in the West Leesburg precinct in Loudoun County, 455 ballots had been cast in the Democratic primary, and 175 votes had been cast for the GOP, according to the precinct chief there.

Early reports from polling places across Virginia showed heavy turnout. Susan Pollard, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Board of Elections, said that turnout is expected to wind up being 30 to 40 percent of registered voters.

"People are interested and excited about this presidential primary, and they definitely want their voices heard,'' Pollard said.

Pollard said there are reports of long lines and shortages of poll workers at some polling places, but she said they were not concentrated in any particular area of the state. She said there are few reported glitches.

Barbara Cockerill, who is the chief at Precinct 301 in Purcellville, said more voters were casting ballots for Democrats than for Republicans -- a trend that became evident early in the morning. The 20-year veteran precinct worker said as of 8:45 a.m., 324 ballots had been cast – and 210 of those were for Democratic candidates.

"I think (turnout is) high. I haven't done a lot of presidential primaries but it's a dual primary, a double primary," she said. "The Democrats are outdoing the Republicans today."

As of 9:30 a.m., 390 voters had cast a ballot at her precinct, she said. Several candidates for Purcellville mayor and Town Council showed up early this morning to cast their votes.

"It’s been pretty steady," Cockerill said. "Because everything is so tight, it's a lot bigger turnout than what we had expected."

Democratic absentee ballots were distributed at a rate of nearly 2 to 1 over Republican ballots in Loudoun, officials said.

Stay-at-home mom Rebecca Goeckeritz, 33, of Round Hill, is a Republican who voted for a Democrat today for the first time. Despite her vote this morning, she said she still will vote for the Republican nominee in the general election.

"I really felt like this was the only way I could have a say today," she said. "I'm hoping it's Obama. It felt kind of odd to go in there and pick up that Democratic ticket."

John Russell, of Middleburg, a custodian with Loudoun County Public Schools, said he wants change: "What everybody wants, a different change, and I think Mr. Obama could do it."

Despite more ballots being handed out for Democrats, Loudoun Republicans also had several reason for voting.

Anthony Hudimac, 45, who is a tax accountant from Round Hill, said he voted Republican because of the war in Iraq.

"We are currently engaged in World War III," he said.

For 69-year-old Lois Jewell, of Round Hill, the day had a special significance. She's voted in every election since 1970, but for the first time was able to vote for a woman for president.

"I’m hoping it happens. It's very exciting, even at my age," she said of the close race and the prospect of a woman in the White House.

Polls in Virginia close at 7 p.m.

washingtonpost.com contributed to this report.

Tagged: elections, politics, President

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