The problem seemed to be they only had two books to check people in (and then only three machines).

My roomate went in at 8:30 and only had a half-hour wait.

I tell you if I didn't love democracy this much I might have bailed. I don't think (even now) I can feel my toes.

(Lyon Village had a similar tale, but they don't seem to have to wait outside).

Having been an observer in the past, I recognize a lot of my neighbors who vote in my precinct. This morning, of the ten or so that had been in by the time I had cast my vote and was departing, I recognized no one.  

Obama!

llinois Sen. Barack Obama picked up a key endorsement Monday from Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, who said he backs the Illinois senator for the Democratic nomination for president.

"Senator Obama brings all these new fresh faces,'' Gonzalez told the San Antonio Express-News. "He has a wider audience. He has the greater potential to engage a greater number of people.''

Si, se puede!

I stayed for 2.5 hours.  Froze to the bone.  I've been home 1/2 an hour and my fingers are still numb.  A nice Obama volunteer drove by and let me warm up in her car for awhile.  Really the dedication of the Obama volunteers is amazing and heartening. That's a big factor in why I support him.  

I've never seen over a hundred people having voted by 6:45am in a primary.  It looks like turnout in VA is going to be HUGE for the Dems.

I'm hoping for an Obama/Huckabee sweep.  I'm feeling a Hillary/McCain day :(.  Could be the weather.  We'll know for sure in a few mins.

-Fred

They were only using one set of poll books, rather than splitting it by last name (A-M, N-Z).  This meant that the voting machines were basically not being used to capacity.

It's going to be a long wait in the evening.

At Eastern Market (my work destination), There were two volunteers for Hillary, and at least 18 Obama volunteers, scattered all over the intersection.  They were spaced out to about shouting distance from each other.  Very surprising and encouraging!

The line was a joke, though - about 50 minutes.  They had two people working the poll book, and six manning the 5 voting machines.  Only one machine ended up being used because the poll book was such a bottleneck.  I saw at least six people get out of line and leave.

Is there any way to ensure that they have a more efficient system in place by November?  We cannot screw ourselves by having our heavily Dem precincts punishing voters with crazy lines while Rep precincts walk in and vote in 5 minutes.

My bad.

Pretty amazing seeing that the typical political breakdown in our county is 60% Republican, 40% Democrat.  

Arlington election officials are bracing for a turnout of as much as 40 percent of the county's registered voters in the Feb. 12 primary elections, which could lead to long lines at the polls during the morning and early evening hours.

[...]

County Treasurer Frank O'Leary, who makes turnout projections based on the number of absentee ballots cast, is suggesting a turnout in the range of 45,000, with as many as 51,000 possible. There are about 132,000 registered voters in Arlington.

Outside there was one frozen Ron Paul supporter handing out literature and no one else.  I've been noticing for the past few days that there are very few Obama signs, some Hillary signs, and an extraordinary number of Ron Paul signs - this is in the vicinity of Wakefield HS.  As a matter of fact, along Rte 7 between Baileys Crossroads and TC Williams HS there were and have been far more and far larger Ron Paul signs than Obama or Hillary.  There's a bit more Obama than Hillary on Rte 7, but not many more.    

By the way, several of the older folks told me they'd liked Edwards best.  He would have done well in my precinct, I think.  

Voted with my wife and two year old around 9:15. we were the 54th and 55th Democratic voters. The 25th Repub voter was punching his touchscreen at the same time.

Pretty good turnout primarywise for this precinct, but am really surprised by the more two to one Democratic advantage in voters so far. If anything, the ratio in the district of Repubs to Dems probably tracks exactly in the opposite direction.

Most exciting part was witnessing my son's delight with the computerized voting. He gazed in rapture at the screen as both Mommy and Daddy made their selections.

Go Obama!

We had to show proof of physical address before we were allowed to choose a ballot.  I thought ID was not required, but driver's license was sufficient.  The line inside the polls snaked around the room.  Unusual here for a primary.

That's excellent news since the turnout is VERY heavy for Obama. I think I've had one person tell me they're supporting Hillary compared to about 60 for Obama, but one thing is also true--everyone LOVES both our candidates.

For the first time EVER in my precinct, absolutely no visible Republican presence, not even someone to put up signs...

At 10 AM, the turnout was over 400 and the lines have never disappeared. Lots of people leaving saying they'll come back later in the day or evening--kinda worries me!

Oh yeah, the other interesting thing is that the turnout in Woodlawn is 9-1 Democratic...

beatley library and st martin de porres had nobody handing out stuff.

Two major African American community leaders, Rev. Lawrence Davies (first black Mayor of Fredericksburg)and current City Council Member Rev. Hashmael Turner each personally canvassed for Obama on Sunday.  

In ACDC Democratic caucuses, we use an electronic version of the book with a bunch of laptops working off the database. Maybe one day...  

140 Dem ballots and 22 GOP ballots at 8:15.  I'll be personally offended if less than 60% of my precinct votes today.

I voted for Hillary, btw. But I'll be just as happy if Obama wins. I figure Dems win either way.

Humongous Obama sign outside a VFW post in Fredericksburg.

I apparently want Hilary to beat Osama more than I want Hucabee to beat McCain. Interesting dynamics when you can vote when you are not registered with a party affiliation.

I have no idea what he really means by this or who his ideal candidate would really be.  Grrrr.

I was about #350 in Westbriar (Vienna) this morning at about 10.  There were about 150 votes in the Republican Primary.

About 70 people were in line behind me, including Georgetown coach John Thompson III (a little celebrity sighting).

If demographic break-downs from previous primaries this election cycle hold true, I think my precinct is one the few in Arlington that might tilt Hillary.

As of 11:00 am there had been a total of 230 people voting in the Primary, 110 Democrats and 120 Republicans.  This was at Rustburg Elementary (Court House 402 Precinct).  This is roughly a 37% Democratic Performing precinct and turns out on average in the General Election of 48% out of 2699 or so registered voters (as of January 2008).  It is not out of the realm of possibility that total voter turnout reaches 20% here in this precinct or in Campbell County.  Any increase in Democratic turnout in Campbell County should be a good indicator of possible Democratic performance for the General.  

I'm disappointed no one would investigate Obama's real policy positions on trade, economics.  

Jim Webb ran on economic justice, fairness and here you are all enthusiastically embracing someone who will clearly lead
in the wrong direction on trade, economic policy.

He's to the right of Clinton and considering we're on an economic cliff, this is not good.  

8 Not Voting cast on critical issues in 2007

US-Peru Trade 12/07
Energy Act of 2007 12/07
Amtrak Federal Subsidy 10/07
Bridge Repair Funding 9/07
National Defense Authorization Act 08
SCHIP 9/07
CHIP 11/07
Prohibiting Funds for groups Performing Abortions

Is This the Kind of "Leadership" we Need in the White House
Support Hillary Rodham Clinton
**
I would scan it and post it if I could but thought it was interesting. This could be the next wave of the Clinton machine against Obama.  

I'm not saying Hillary is ideal at all but you have to look at these things squarely in the face no matter how desperate you are for a candidate who would actually represent our best economic interests.

You know full well I have written many pieces about Hillary's ties to offshore outsourcing business interests but that does not negate the fact that Obama has the same ties and agenda as much as I wish it were not so.

So, don't you dare try to imply I'm some sort of candidate cheerleader when we have middle class issues exclusively as the agenda.

But thanks for stopping by.

1) are questionable as to which they consider liberal and not liberal votes

2) is done on the basis of percentage of votes actually cast, rather than percentage of those votes for which you actually voted

Dang I miss Paul Wellstone!

For example, it is clearly true Obama has a hybrid privatization retirement account but so does Hillary.

401ks
in terms of privatization her's looks better but hey,
they are both considering it.

You cannot just say someone claims so and so is more liberal because it's a meaningless term
on economic issues.  

YES WE CAN!

However, radio and catv conservative pundits are now painting Obama as an ultra liberal as more and more radio callers are calling in saying they may vote for Obama.  This might temper some Repubs voters.  

In my view, Obama sees achieving true progress by bringing in Republicans and their viewpoints to create solutions.  I think this is what it will take to break the divided climate we have in this nation politically.  

Who do we want to elect - a great partisan and politican, or a great statesman looked up to by both sides?  We need the latter if America is going to lead the world for the better.

I am assuming you are talking about Obama and then McCain right?

Obama has one of the most liberal voting records in the senate

McCain is a member of the gang of 14

I rest my case

oh and as far as voting (Annandale area) Ds usually outnumber the Rs 2 to 1 so far its been more like 4 to 1.  Clinton and Obama supporters were both outside  

But he has an 83 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union and has been consistently pro-life and has voted on the conservative side on the majority of legislation in his career.  

In addition, he has supported the Iraq war from the beginning, supports the surge and has said he is determined to stay in Iraq for 100 years if necessary.  

That hardly makes him one of the most liberal Republican senators.  Somehow, I think Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee would beat him out by miles for that distinction.

McCain is the one who is looked up to more by both sides and is more of a moderate (gang of 14 etc)  

Obama is an excellent flag bearer for the progressive left but he is NOT a moderate by any stretch of the imagination

Was the Coburn-Obama earmarks legislation "partisan"?

Was the Lugar-Obama non-proliferation initiative "partisan"?

Was the Feingold-McCain-Obama finance reform legislation "partisan"?

Was the Grassley-Obama fuels act "partisan"?

From a district on the South Side of Chicago, he reached Republican-dominated Springfield as a committed liberal, later writing that he understood politics in the capital "as a full-contact sport, and minded neither the sharp elbows nor the occasional blind-side hit."

Yet he emerged as a leader while still in his 30s by developing a style former colleagues describe as methodical, inclusive and pragmatic. He cobbled together legislation with Republicans and conservative Democrats, making overtures other progressive politicians might consider distasteful.

Along the way, he played an important role in drafting bipartisan ethics legislation and health-care reform. He overcame law enforcement objections to codify changes designed to curb racial profiling and to make capital punishment, which he favors, more equitable.

"When you come in, especially as a freshman, and work on something like ethics reform, it's not necessarily a way to endear yourself to some of the veteran members of the Illinois General Assembly," said state Sen. Kirk W. Dillard, a Republican who became a friend. "And working on issues like racial profiling was contentious, but Barack had a way both intellectually and in demeanor that defused skeptics."

"He wasn't a maverick," said Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "There were other legislators I would turn to if I just wanted to make a lot of noise. That wasn't his style."

Washington Post, Feb. 9, 2007 "Obama Forged Political Meddle in Illinois Legislature"

As a statesmen, I don't know who would be admiring him for that.  What has he done in national and international affairs that would earn such acclaim?  Campaign finance reform?  I mean as far sitting senators go, I don't think he is on the level of any historically significant senators.

As far as general admiration, I, and I suspect many people, admire him for his service to the country.  That doesn't mean I agree with his policy proposals or would ever consider voting for the man.  If Arizonans like him as a Senator, bully for them!  I admire Bob Dole for his service and I am sure a lot of people do, but that doesn't translate into votes.  And for reference, Bob Dole, in my opinion, has a more likeable demeanor than Senator McCain.

Needless to say, McCain has compromised himself in order to win his party's nomination in ways that will make him an easier target in the general election.  I am surprised by some of the vitriol that my Republican friends in the Richmond suburbs have for the guy.

He's going to have a lot of bills coming due if he wins the GE and it won't be to regular American voters.

Had an Obama Presence (me) and a Ron Paul presence, the Ron Paul guy said he would probably vote for Barack in the end because he hated McCain...whatever floats your boat bud.

Now, it was 11:30 a.m. when I went, so I didn't expect it to be crowded. But talking with the poll workers, they said it had not been very busy.

I haven't seen many Obama lawn signs around my neighborhood, where a lot of residents are affiliated in one way or another with UVA. That surprised me. On the other hand, I have not seen a single Clinton sign anywhere.

At the time turnout was huge and HEAVILY Democratic.

462 Democrats
49 Republicans

That's great news for today and for November.

Arlington is on fire!

Got Pastry?

One of them has never voted in any primary before and the other 2 would normally vote in the GOP primary but they see that contest as over anyway.

Republican cross-overs have got to be a factor here. Not a huge factor, but a factor nonetheless.  

http://www.nbc12.com/

Several signs for Connelly and Dennehey.  Two for Huckabee.  

http://www.wavy.com/

Interestingly, I have given a lot of money over the past 4 years to the dems, and I didn't receive one mailer.  But, my wife did.  From Hilary.  :)

There weren't separate lines for Democrats and Republicans. When you got up to the poll worker, he or she would ask which primary you wanted to vote in and hand you a card - it was probably color coded.  Then you went to the voting machine.

After voting for Obama, I asked one of the poll workers about the turnout and he told me that it was running at 20 percent, which was, according to him, high for that early in the day at Fairview.

Outside, there was a strong presence for the Democrats and none for the Republicans.  Not even signs.

That's unusual for Fairview.  Usually both Dems and Repubs cover it fairly well.

Also, in the first two weeks of the year, 37,025 met the Jan. 14 deadline for registering in time to vote in the primary today.  Of that, 61 percent of the new registrants were 24 or younger - a good sign for Obama.

BUT i was, I am assuming the 383 person to vote. That seems prob about right. If I am wrong i was the 383 democrat to vote. I am not sure if the #'s are kept separate or the # of voters is a total.

There were 4 people in my line to vote. Two in front of me and one behind. Two women and two men. I of course one of the men. After saying I was a Democrat and getting a dirty look from the ladies at the table, I don't think they could have said Democrat any more dirtier if they tried, I went and placed my vote. The two women both voted Democrat. The other gentleman voted Republican. There seemed to be a lot more notations in the Democratic folder than the Republican folder from what I could see. And if a 3 out of 4 in that brief time is any indication I am very pleased to say that Dem turnout will be good.

Oh btw, I voted for hope and chance over "experience."

Good luck to all.

Boy could you imagine if Mark Warner had determined to run. As a moderate Virginia Democrat I cannot help but think it would have played out wonderfully for him now with the potentially of boxing both Obama/Clinton with the "liberal" tag in the General against McCain. With the economy being the number one issue now Warner would have exploited both Obama's and Clintons lack of economic understanding quite well I think.

OBAMA 08!!!

YES WE CAN!!!

I was at the polls by 6:10am and there was a decent showing for our small district. I took the 15th Democratic ballot and I was the 22nd voter. I overheard the next 5 or 6 people behind me ask for Dem ballots as well. I was pretty impressed with that since our district is overwhelmingly Republican. Hopefully the trend stays the same through out the day.

GO Dem's -- Obama '08

This really touched me, the thought of someone who was once outside the community being allowed back in and allowed to participate in the decision making process.  It's a really fine day for Virginia.

Congratulations, my friend, and may there be many more votes in your future.

Business appeared to be busy, but I was in and out in about 15 minutes. It looked like around 350 had voted by then.

Funniest part was, an elderly woman walked in and started talking to the election officials pretty loudly. She made it a point to let them know that she was "voting in the DEMOCRATIC primary THIS TIME." (I assume she normally votes Republican.) Then she stated, and I mean EVERYONE in the room heard her, "I'm voting for O-BAM-A!" (like Ala-BAM-A). Whole room started laughing.

Signed a petition to get Mark Warner on the ballot outside, and then went back to work.

Only Hillary people outside. But there are also a lot of black voters in the precinct, too, so I have no idea which side it will favor (but assume Hillary).

Obama Campaign to Hold Election Night Parties

RICHMOND, VA - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's Virginia campaign and its volunteers will hold election night parties in Richmond, Tidewater, Northern Virginia and Roanoke tonight. Please find locations below.

TUES, FEB. 12, 2008

Richmond Election Night Party
When:   7 p.m.
Where:  The Camel
       1621 W. Broad St.      
       Richmond, VA

NOVA Election Night Party
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            Lucky Three Restaurant
                 5900 Leesburg Pike
                 Falls Church, VA 22041

Arlington Obama Grassroots Party
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            Bailey's Pub & Grille (Green Room)
Ballston Common Mall
4238 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203

Roanoke Election Night Party
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            The Venue
2523 Melrose Avenue
Roanoke, VA

Norfolk Election Night Party
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            Hell's Kitchen
124 Granby St.
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Beach Election Night Parties
Location 1
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            HK on the Bay
4600 Lookout Rd.

Virginia Beach, VA
Location 2
When:             7 p.m.
Where:            Luxury Brown's
800 Baker Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA

The ramp from I-395 to I-495 southbound is closed
The ramp from I-395 to I-495 southbound is iced over and is currently shut down due to more than 15 reported traffic accidents. Motorists should find an alternate route.  

I took a peek at the numbers when I voted at 1PM.  The number requesting Democratic ballots was strong, but the Republican numbers weren't much lower.

I am guessing that the R's in my precinct are going for McCain--they want to put Huckabee away.  Unfortunately, some might have voted for Obama if McCain had already iced the cake.

It is difficult to tell if this is in fact a HUGE turnout or if the wait to vote is so long because county registrars have only one registration book per precinct.  So regardless of whether you request a Democratic or Republican ballot, you have to wait in the same line.

What a mess.  

I hope everyone -- or at least all the Obama voters -- have already voted in Arlington

Democratic ballots out at 5:30 p.m. 262

Rethug ballots - 201

Heavy rethug precinct.

Honestly I was surprised at that high of turnout amongst Republicans.  Stryker precinct of Williamsburg is VERY liberal - up to 75% for Democrats in general elections.  My only explanation was that students, a huge voting bloc in the precinct, vote later because they wake up late and go to class until the afternoon.

Unfortunately we had horrible news that rocked our campus and may have kept some people from voting, but in general talk around the campus was that the first step towards making our society better was voting in the primary (for Obama).