Clinton-Obama race has Indiana set for big turnout
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana voters began casting their ballots Tuesday and early signs indicated the presidential primary race between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton could produce a record turnout.
Marion County Clerk Beth White said many voters already were in line when polls opened at 6 a.m.
"We really do feel today is going to be a heavy voting day, and our inspectors are ready," said White, the clerk in Indiana's most populous county.
Election officials braced for a busy day, and in Marion County, there were no early reports of any major problems, although two polling locations did not open on time because inspectors were late in arriving, White said.
She also said Democratic ballots had not been delivered to two other Indianapolis locations, both in Perry Township on the south side, although the problem was discovered early and the ballots were on the way.
"No voters will be turned away" because of a lack of ballots, White said, noting touch-screen machines were available at both sites.
White, whose county includes Indianapolis, said more than enough ballots had been printed to make sure polls did not run out.
"We've printed tens of thousands of ballots more than we even have registered voters," she said. "In a primary we can't always predict who wants which ballot, Democrat or Republican, but we have done contingencies, we've looked at trending and I think we've planned appropriate for that."
Kevin Schafer, the 22nd Ward Democratic chairman on the Indianapolis north side, said that if turnout holds, the polling station could see 55 percent of the ward's nearly 800 registered voters turn out for a primary in which 8 percent to 10 percent turnout is the norm.
"My wife and I stood three hours in line to see Obama last night and never did get in," he said. "I've never seen anything like that, and I was part of Bobby Kennedy's campaign when I was 15."
In southern Indiana, the polls opened at Evansville Bosse High school to a steady stream of early morning voters who came with coffee in hand. Among them were voters of all ages, including some just old enough to vote.
Andrew Baun, 18, a Reitz High School senior, said the unexpected importance of Indiana's primary this year -- and the polarized political landscape -- makes every vote important. His vote went to Obama.
"I've never before in my life been real political, but I just firmly feel that Obama is what's best for us right now," Baun said.
Jeanne Tennyson, 44, a high school teacher in Evansville, voted for Clinton and said she felt different from past elections.
"People in Indiana have not had any reason to be excited about a presidential campaign in a long time. We always vote Republican. We never ever count in the primaries. So it's kind of neat," Tennyson said.
Early voting concluded Monday at levels triple those of the 2004 presidential primary. Some of the heaviest early voting over the weekend came in counties where Obama was strongly favored, but his campaign downplayed that as a possible advantage as Clinton's campaign promoted mail-in absentee ballots to voters 65 and older.
The record turnout for an Indiana primary came in 1992 with slightly more than 1 million votes cast. Election officials around the state, however, said their preparations have been more like that of a general election, such as when about 2.5 million people voted in November 2004.
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, the state's top elections officer, said he believed all 92 counties were prepared. He said his office also prepared to respond to any complaints of misconduct by candidates or their campaigns.
"We are going to have several teams in several counties," he said.
Mitch Stewart, the Obama campaign's Indiana director, said the campaign would have an extensive network of poll watchers across the state to monitor for any voting troubles and to keep tabs on activity by Clinton supporters.
"I'm sure we'll be keeping a close eye on each other," Stewart said. The main priority, he said, will be answering questions of voters and making sure supporters make it to the polls.
The Clinton campaign planned to have election watchers in all 92 counties for Tuesday to address any problems, Clinton spokesman Jonathan Swain said.
"We are going to have people throughout the state at polling sites to help ensure that everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to vote," he said.
State officials reported Monday that 159,462 absentee ballots had been cast across the state through Sunday. About 75 percent of the absentee ballots requested through Sunday were Democratic ballots.
, Associated Press, May 6, 2008
Marion County Clerk Beth White said many voters already were in line when polls opened at 6 a.m.
"We really do feel today is going to be a heavy voting day, and our inspectors are ready," said White, the clerk in Indiana's most populous county.
Election officials braced for a busy day, and in Marion County, there were no early reports of any major problems, although two polling locations did not open on time because inspectors were late in arriving, White said.
She also said Democratic ballots had not been delivered to two other Indianapolis locations, both in Perry Township on the south side, although the problem was discovered early and the ballots were on the way.
"No voters will be turned away" because of a lack of ballots, White said, noting touch-screen machines were available at both sites.
White, whose county includes Indianapolis, said more than enough ballots had been printed to make sure polls did not run out.
"We've printed tens of thousands of ballots more than we even have registered voters," she said. "In a primary we can't always predict who wants which ballot, Democrat or Republican, but we have done contingencies, we've looked at trending and I think we've planned appropriate for that."
Kevin Schafer, the 22nd Ward Democratic chairman on the Indianapolis north side, said that if turnout holds, the polling station could see 55 percent of the ward's nearly 800 registered voters turn out for a primary in which 8 percent to 10 percent turnout is the norm.
"My wife and I stood three hours in line to see Obama last night and never did get in," he said. "I've never seen anything like that, and I was part of Bobby Kennedy's campaign when I was 15."
In southern Indiana, the polls opened at Evansville Bosse High school to a steady stream of early morning voters who came with coffee in hand. Among them were voters of all ages, including some just old enough to vote.
Andrew Baun, 18, a Reitz High School senior, said the unexpected importance of Indiana's primary this year -- and the polarized political landscape -- makes every vote important. His vote went to Obama.
"I've never before in my life been real political, but I just firmly feel that Obama is what's best for us right now," Baun said.
Jeanne Tennyson, 44, a high school teacher in Evansville, voted for Clinton and said she felt different from past elections.
"People in Indiana have not had any reason to be excited about a presidential campaign in a long time. We always vote Republican. We never ever count in the primaries. So it's kind of neat," Tennyson said.
Early voting concluded Monday at levels triple those of the 2004 presidential primary. Some of the heaviest early voting over the weekend came in counties where Obama was strongly favored, but his campaign downplayed that as a possible advantage as Clinton's campaign promoted mail-in absentee ballots to voters 65 and older.
The record turnout for an Indiana primary came in 1992 with slightly more than 1 million votes cast. Election officials around the state, however, said their preparations have been more like that of a general election, such as when about 2.5 million people voted in November 2004.
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, the state's top elections officer, said he believed all 92 counties were prepared. He said his office also prepared to respond to any complaints of misconduct by candidates or their campaigns.
"We are going to have several teams in several counties," he said.
Mitch Stewart, the Obama campaign's Indiana director, said the campaign would have an extensive network of poll watchers across the state to monitor for any voting troubles and to keep tabs on activity by Clinton supporters.
"I'm sure we'll be keeping a close eye on each other," Stewart said. The main priority, he said, will be answering questions of voters and making sure supporters make it to the polls.
The Clinton campaign planned to have election watchers in all 92 counties for Tuesday to address any problems, Clinton spokesman Jonathan Swain said.
"We are going to have people throughout the state at polling sites to help ensure that everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to vote," he said.
State officials reported Monday that 159,462 absentee ballots had been cast across the state through Sunday. About 75 percent of the absentee ballots requested through Sunday were Democratic ballots.
, Associated Press, May 6, 2008
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