The State of the Race - Stafford
Slow but steady turnout; well-behaved, cordial voters
By FXBG Advance Staff
In a race that is as bitter as any in recent memory, with both presidential candidates painting their opponents as “threats to democracy,” the morning rush to vote was anything but a rush or controversial in parts of Stafford County.
Amanda Lemmon, who was working the Republican table at Mountain View High School, said that “people are gracious, friendly, cordial.”
Standing near her was Katie Eveler, who was working the Democratic table and said there wasn’t a lot to say to most voters because “people seem to know who they want to vote for.”
The two report that there was a line to vote at 6:00 a.m. of about 20 people. Turnout since has been steady with no lines.
The poll chief reported that as of 9:00 a.m., 363 people had cast ballots. Early voting for the Roseville precinct, where Mountain View High School sits, was 40.9% of registered voters, according to VPAP.
At nearby North Stafford High School, Jim Tully described the day as “quiet but steady.” Tully was volunteering at the Republican tent in front of the polling station.
As at Mountain View, there was a line of about 20 people at 5:45 a.m. that quickly dissipated as people were able to secure their ballots and vote fairly quickly.
North Stafford sits in the Griffis election district, which realized an early voting turnout rate of just 26.7%.
One Hot Spot
At H.H. Poole Middle School, however, the polling site reported 636 voters at about 10 a.m. The Poole precinct had 44.4% early voter turnout.
Sean, a volunteer at the Republican tent, described the turnout as “vigorous.”
People were lined up to the street, he reported, at 5:15 a.m. However, he continued, “they’re doing a great job inside.”
Constitutional Amendment, Not Candidates Topics of Discussion
The discussions the volunteers at Mountain View were having concerned the constitutional amendment that is on the ballot this year.
Virginia exempts from the taxation the principal resident of a surviving spouse of any soldier killed in action. The referendum would change that so that it includes the surviving spouses of those killed “in the line of duty,” and not just those “killed in action.”
A voter coming out of the polling station H.H. Poole made a point to stop at both the Democratic and the Republican tables as say “thank you” to both for making him aware of the issue.
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