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Number of write-in votes could affect timing of election results
Journal Photo by David Rolfe
Dan Besse supporters (from left), Gregg Jamback, Gail Davis, and Charlie Davis stood on Hawthorne Road and waved at passing motorists, reminding them to vote, Tues., Nov. 3, 2009.
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Published: November 3, 2009
Updated: 11/03/2009 03:57 pm
More than 900 people cast votes at South Fork Elementary School during last year's election.
But this year, without the national elections and with an unopposed incumbent at the top of the local ticket, the number looks to be much smaller this year.
By shortly after 10 a.m., 52 people had had voted at the Southwest Ward precinct.
Still, that's not the slowest that precinct judge Faye Rogers has seen.
"We only had 10 in (this year's) primary," she said. "So we're excited they're coming in."
Rob Coffman, director of Forsyth County's Board of Elections, said 1,366 people had already cast their ballots through early voting before the polls opened today. That's a little less than 1 percent of the 186,004 registered voters in the county.
The potential for a high number of write-in votes could have an effect on when numbers are released tonight, Coffman said.
Ballots with write-in votes are counted separately from those that are completely computerized, he said. Write-in votes are usually tabulated the next day and only rarely do they alter the outcome, because write-in candidates are at such a disadvantage to candidates printed on the ballot.
But with the situation such as the two write-in candidates in the South Ward, poll workers will be paying closer attention to how many write-in votes are coming in, Coffman said.
"If we see a close race going on, we will make a concerted effort to count those votes" when the polls close, he said.
There should still be enough time to tabulate and release final but unofficial results tonight even if a write-in candidate has a strong showing, he said.
Coffman said he expects the turnout for the citywide elections to be about 10 percent, and somewhat higher in the county's smaller municipalities that are also holding elections today.
At Little Creek Recreation Center, judges Chirell McCummings, Edward Vaughns and Al Sutton had seen 67 people vote by 9 a.m.
McCummins said she likes it when it's busier.
"Bring more people in," she implored. "Come vote. It's important."
This year's election will represent the first time that most of almost 17,000 voters have had a chance to vote in Winston-Salem's races following their annexation into the city, Coffman said.
Many on the city ballot are running unopposed, though some, such as South Ward incumbent Molly Leight, face last-minute write-in campaigns.
One of the most contested races is expected to be in the Southwest Ward, where incumbent Democrat Dan Besse is facing Republican challenger Ted Shipley.
At the Little Creek precinct, James R. Jones was putting Besse posters on the side of his Buick Century while he greeted people coming to vote.
He said he likes Besse because he has worked to improve the economy and the environment, Jones said.
"We need to protect our soil, water and air because it's been abused," he said.
At South Fork, Robert Cornwell voted for Shipley. He said both candidates had their strengths, but he was disappointed in how the city dealt with its parting funding the new baseball stadium for the Winston-Salem Dash.
"The big thing is the ball field," Cornwell said. He said the details of how the city will be able to recoup its investment in the park have not been made clear, and he worries the park will be in poor condition when the city takes it over.
"I think when it comes back to the city it's going to be slummy," he said. "I just don't think the city used their heads on the ball field.
The polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
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