Statewide voter turnout appears to be low, with two potential exceptions.
VC sees high turnout in Arlington. Lowell capped off the last diary with optimism for the Webb camp in that city:
There's almost no doubt about it from everything I'm hearing, Arlington's going for Webb by a comfortable margin, maybe as high as 2:1. How many votes? Maybe 7000 total? If it's 2:1, that means about 4,600 for Webb and 2,300 for Miller in Arlington.
So, might Arlington and McLean cancel each other out? If so, then last minute GOTV efforts in other parts of the state might tip this election. Ultra-low turnout is reported so far in pro-Webb areas of SWVA and the Beach, and the same for Miller's Richmond stronghold.
As the last diary is getting unwieldy, let's move to a fresh thread. Keep the reports coming on GOTV efforts and the afternoon rush hour voting.
UPDATE: teacherken has posted a well-written diary of his day at Kos, which includes this pro-Webb assessment based admittedly on "speculation":
Turnout varies around the state. Based on early checks it is quite low in Richmond, which should be one of Miller's better areas. It is higher than normal in the coal counties, which are heavily Webb. It is somewhat light in Norfolk but they tend to be afternoon voters. Here in N Virginia it varies from precinct to precinct, but in general seems higher than predicted in Arlington and in some spots in Fairfax County.Based on the phone calls I did, which were all to N Virginia, I will be surprised if Miller carries any major jurisdiction in NoVa. He may be close in Alexandria because he has so many local endorsements. But what I am picking up is that moving the party together behind Webb has already begun, and includes a number of people who publicly endorsed Miller.
What informal exit polling of which I am aware shows no precinct sampled in Arlington where Webb was drawing less than 55%, and that figure was in a precinct whose chair is a strong Miller supporter.
UPDATE: NLS claims that he'll be ready to call the election at 5 p.m.
UPDATE: Rick Howell reports on extremely light turnout in Lynchburg. Waldo has similar reports in C'ville.
UPDATE: VC gives some impressions:
1. Gerry Connolly robo-dialed voters for Miller county-wide. This includes neighborhoods near the MetroWest development, where he is enemy #1. More than one voter said they were voting against Connolly (for Webb).Could it mean that I'm wasting my time with these updates?!
2. High military turnout for a Democratic Primary. Wonder what that means?
3. Richmond, a pro-Miller area, has low turnout.
4. Pro-Webb rural areas have low turnout (as expected).
5. High turnout in Winchester seems to suggest crossover voting (by R's for Placeholder Candidate Harris Miller).
6. I've yet to hear any anecdotes about voters reading blogs. Hmmm...what could that mean?
UPDATE: Times Dispatch provides not-so-breaking news that turnout was low statewide. No further analysis. Thanks guys.
[UPDATE by Lowell: Ben Tribbett, aka "Not Larry Sabato", calls it for Jim Webb just before 5:30 PM. Let's see if Ben maintains his "99.5% accuracy" after this. My guess is that he will.]
I'm also hearing "Webb blowout in Vienna." (Passed 2005 numbers right after noon; almost everyone voting for Webb)
Turnout is low in most precincts but mine (Lowe's Island) was at +- 100 voters at least 60% Webb (perhaps higher, the only person who admitted voting for Miller also admitted she is a republican and had a bush bumper sticker). I was getting thumbs up from most voters.
I changed at least 4 voters to Webb (Answering the question 'Which one is the Democrat?' I responded 'The one who Was SECNAV for Reagan or the one that testified in favor of Ashcroft for AG?', worked every time...)
All the poll workers I've talked to were voting for Webb.
5 sigs to pledge 'No' on marriage amendment.
I know that the 10th cd is supposed to be Miller territory but I see absolutely no evidence to support that.
Back to work...
I had one voter who couldn't decide (but was leaning Webb) and she asked another question about Miller when a friend of her's showed up pointing at my Webb shirt saying 'vote for him, vote for him!!!' I didn't have to say anything else except 'Thanks for voting today'.
I'm heading back for the last 2 hours...
LETS PUSH THIS THING OVER THE FINISH LINE!!!
I had a really nasty woman call us "ugly and classless" and how "fucked up" it was that we were all working for a "fucking Republican." I laughed and said to the girl collecting gay marriage amenddment sigs, "Miller voters are angry people." She replied she wasn't voting. A couple people told me yay Webb, more actually told me yay Miller. Or they just backed away from me like I had the plague-maybe it was my Kerry sticker. ;)
We have more signs-they have a few more volunteers, who btw are having a great time telling anyone that asks that Tim Kaine and Warner have endorsed Miller, but only in private.
I hope you guys can pull it off, looks like we are going to get beat. I guess the race card while we were winning the sign war paid off, huh?
Its the first time I saw no campaign workers at the polling place when I went to vote.
Total turn out at 3pm 139 dems, 40 republicans
Marc Fisher is asking for predictions, and offering a prize, as yet unnamed . . .
I had put up 60+ signs at precincts last night, and they were the only signs at the precincts today. No sign of Miller or supporters today. I do know of some Miller voters, mostly ill-informed, but some objecting to the military style of Jim Webb, etc.
I will be doing my after-work check in a few minutes.
Damn, I wish people came out to vote in primaries. They have no idea in most cases that there even IS a primary.
Sad. But I am hopeful for statewide. I will be at the Registrar's office tonight getting the totals and reporting them here.