6:42
It's over. Except for one small thing - the results. Yep, that's fairly important.
Me? I'm off to vote. How long do you think I will have to wait in line. I am guessing at least an hour.
I'll try to check back later when the results start coming in.
It's been a great day, a historic day.
Now let's start counting all those votes.
5:34:
There's a huge turnout in Yeadon. There are 550 voters eligible to cast ballots in the 2nd precinct. Just after 4 p.m., 401 voters had already visited the polling place to make their votes count.
5:25
One of the things that caused tempers to rise a bit in several polling places is the tradition of having separate lines depending on the first letter of your last name.
In some places that meant the line for those with names starting with A-L got a lot more traffic than the one for M-Z.
At one polling place, voices were raised by those who were waiting in a fairly lengthy A-L line when new arrivals walked right up to the voting booths in the less-crowded M-Z lines.
Similar confrontations were reported in a couple of Chester County towns.
Can’t say as that I blame them.
Apparently cooler heads prevailed. There were no fisticuffs. At least none that were reported to us.
4:57:
Here's an afternoon update on election day problems from the watchdog group the Committee of Seventy, including a bizarre complaint of snakes at a polling place in Brookhaven:
A little more than half-way through the day, there seems to be high
turnout and a modest number of complaints across the region. We hope the
positive results, so far, are a result of the strong signals regarding
Election Day behavior that were sent by Gov. Rendell, Mayor Nutter,
D.A. Lynne Abraham and the massive non-partisan field force of close to
1,000 Committee of Seventy volunteers.
We continue to look into several incidents, including minority polling
officials being ousted by Democratic Judges of Elections in
Philadelphia. We are also watching the now-36 City divisions (compared
with 16 for the primary) with over the permitted 1,200 voters.
Here are some other matters that merited attention:
* We received calls from several hospitals asking about voting
procedures for patients who did not anticipate a hospital stay,
including one new mother from Emmaus, PA who was "desperate to vote." A
voter who becomes physically disabled or ill between 5 p.m. on Friday,
October 31st and 8 p.m. today is entitled to vote by emergency absentee
ballot. The voter must complete an emergency ballot application and
deliver it to the Court of Common Pleas in his or her county no later
than 8 p.m. today in order to receive a ballot. Since personal delivery
is not possible for hospitalized patients, the patient/voter can
designate, in writing, a representative to deliver the emergency ballot
to him or her and return the completed ballot to the county Board of
Elections. If this isn't possible, a judge can direct a county deputy
sheriff to deliver an emergency absentee ballot. Please advise anyone in
this situation to go to www.votespa.com
to
download the necessary forms. Voters who are uncertain about what to do
should call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
* We are still receiving isolated calls about machine breakdowns
in Philadelphia, including both machines at 52nd and Chestnut Streets.
However, these reports have slowed down considerably since this morning.
Our volunteers are reporting that some committeepeople are nervous about
running out of emergency paper ballots during the evening crunch should
half of the machines break down. As in the April primary, the City
Commissioners are saying that these fears are unfounded.
* At 11:30 a.m., Seventy's volunteers followed up on a call that
the Judge of Elections in the 5th Ward (225 N. 10th Street) was
(improperly) requesting current drivers' licenses with addresses from
all voters. They found this report to be true, and also found that the
line was being separated by last name as in many other divisions.
However, this "line separation" was not explained to the many
Chinese-speaking voters waiting in line. Our volunteers found that many
voters were confused about why they were being pulled out of line and
left the polling place. Seventy reported both of these problems to the
City's Law Department.
* Voters are facing a fair number of registration issues,
including names not appearing in the poll book. In Philadelphia's 58th
ward, 40th division, the book was missing all last names from "Aa" to
Aj." There is also some confusion about voter identification,
specifically whether or not a voter needs identification to cast a
provisional ballot. The answer to that is "no."
* Some voters are confused about straight party voting. A
Philadelphia voter who wants to vote a straight party ticket can hit the
party button at the top of the ballot and then the "vote" button. A
voter wants to split his or her ticket should vote individually for
their favored candidates and then hit the "vote" button.
* Be glad that you don't vote in Brookhaven, Delaware County.
There were snakes reported at the polling place at the Athletic
Association (Powell and Albert Roads), along with broken lights. There also was a collapsed ceiling at a polling place in Chester Township. A voter also reported (although our volunteers did not see
this) that constables were riding up on horses and threatening voters.
4:47:
It's becoming increasingly clear that one of the major issues of the day is just how many voter machines were polling places supposed to have. If they got the same amount they always did and were simply overwhelmed by the numbers, that's one thing. But if they got fewer machines than they normally got, that's another thing altogether.
One report indicated many senior citizens had to wait in line for 2 hours. They said there for the only voting machine in each of three different polling locations. You'd think there would be more machines available, especially in light of what everyone was expecting to be a huge turnout.
4:35
Just how high is the voter turnout in Delaware County? Consider this. By late afternoon it was believed that as much as 65 percent of the vote had already visited the polls in Haverford. Pretty impressive.
3:17
Hold the presses! Ed Rendell thinks Barack Obama is going to win the election.
Not exactly earth-shattering news, I know. The governor told reporters he's "optimistic but not overconfident."
Rendell showed up where all serious Philly pols wind up on election day - the Famous Deli - in a huge bus bearing the words "On the Road to Change."
Rendell's not sure he believes Obama will win by the margin many polls are indicating. Instead, the governor predicted Obama will take the state by maybe 5 or 6 points.
3:06
Joe Biden did not simply head back to his Greenville estate after casting his vote at Tatnall School in Wilmington this morning. Instead he went right back out on the campaign trail.
The Democratic VP candidate headed for the crucial battleground of Virginia to work the polls and encourage supporters in the Southern swing state.
Biden visited a polling place at a school in a modest Richmond suburb Tuesday morning, shaking hands and hugging voters. He was accompanied by his wife, Jill, and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.
Biden signed autographs and posed for photos with enthusiastic voters and their children.
In the school parking lot, Biden had a private conversation with 19-year-old Wayne Phillips, a first-time voter. Phillips suffers from sickle-cell anemia, and poll workers helped him cast his ballot from the back seat of his car.
Biden told Phillips, “Thank you, man.”
2:50:
Someone forgot to tell John McCain and Barack Obama that their job is now done. Both men went right back out on the campaign trail after casting their votes Tuesday.
Obama, bidding to become the first African-American president, greeted voters in Indiana. McCain held rallies in Colorado and New Mexico.
Whoa, fellas. This one is in the hands of the voters now.
2:10:
There's been a resolution in a bit of a hissing match over poll watchers in Philly. Here's how AP detailed it:
The Philadelphia district attorney’s office says it has restored Republican election observers who were kicked out of polling places.
Spokeswoman Cathie Abookire said Tuesday that the partisan disputes were compounded by a misunderstanding about the rules that govern certified election observers.
The McCain-Palin campaign complained of intimidation by Democratic election officials who were kicking Republican officials out of polling places.
Abookire said the GOP observers were allowed to go back in after a district attorney’s team arrived.
She said a certified observer can go inside any polling place in Philadelphia and stay, as long as there are no more than two watchers in any polling place.
1:35:
Delaware County Election Bureau Solicitor Frank Catania confirms that today's turnout appears to be blowing away the levels seen in the 2004 presidential race. Catania added that no major problems have popped up as yet. The county has 427 polling places.
Catania added that the county has issued nearly 4,000 "watcher" certificates to groups – mostly Democrats – who want to monitor polling place activity. That's about double the amount that usually sign up for such duties.
1:13:
The Associated Press has an interactive national map to keep tabs on the presidential race.
Click here to check it out.12:47:
John McCain has cast his ballot in Arizona: Here is how the AP detailed it:
PHOENIX (AP) — Republican John McCain has cast his ballot at a church near his central Phoenix home.
McCain stepped out of a sport-utility vehicle Tuesday morning with wife Cindy as a small crowd cheered “Go, John, go!” and “We love you!” One person carried a sign that read, “Use your brain, vote McCain!”
They walked into the church, cast their ballots and left within minutes, avoiding any lines.
McCain signed a poster and gave the thumbs-up sign before leaving without speaking to reporters.
Earlier, McCain could be seen on the patio of his high-rise condo, pacing with a cell phone and a large cup of coffee.
McCain was heading to a rally in Grand Junction, Colo., and a volunteer site in New Mexico before returning to Phoenix.
12:40:
This just in. The rain has arrived. A fine drizzle started falling on Delaware County around noon. That means if you have not headed out to the polls as yet, and won’t be able to get there until after work, you better pack an umbrella with you because you might find yourself standing outside in the rain.
The drizzle is expected to give way to more substantial rain this afternoon and into tonight.
12:20:
Things are certainly jammed at polling places in Aston. A co-worker reports standing in line for 90 minutes at her polling place at the Aston Vo-Tech Center, only to be told she was likely still another 90 minutes from voting. She got there around 11 a.m.
Lines were long at the site from the get-go, with as many as 100 people in line when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
11:45:
Another co-worker arrived and reported waiting in line for an hour and a half in the Allentown area.
11:40:
Our friend Rod Powell checks in with a problem voting in Chester. Rod is blind and works at the Delco Blind Sight Center in the city. He reports that when he got to his polling place in the 1st Ward, 1st Precinct, there was a long line and only two machines available. One of them was an accessible machine for the disabled, and one was set for non-handicapped voters. Powell says poll workers at Chestnut Ridge asked him if he would use the accessible machine with an assist from poll workers because of the long lines.
He declined, saying he instead wanted to vote independently. After a discussion, a poll worker checked with Media and learned that Powell was indeed entitled to vote that way if he so desired.
One key issue in the city seems to be the lack of machines at polling places.
11:12
Reader Jim Savoia chimes in from Norwood, where voting was a breeze. "My wife and I voted in Norwood at 9:45 am. No wait, no line, only 1 other person was there while we were."
And that's in the heart of one of the hottest, nastiest state legislative races in recent memory, which has pitted Republican Nick Miccarelli and Democrat John DeFrancisco in a battle royal for the 162nd seat being vacated by longtime Republican Rep. Ron Raymond.
11:02
The civic watchdog group Committee of Seventy reports a 'reasonable' number of election machine breakdowns and other problems scattered around Philadelphia. the biggest complain continues to be long lines and waiting to cast ballots. Some polling places are reporting one-hour waits before voters can get into the booth. Committee of Seventh boss Zach Stalberg said the group has 1,000 volunteers across the region monitoring the vote. Some cranky machines caused problems in some areas of the city, coupled with the idea that poll workers were not aware that they needed to have backup emergency paper ballots on hand for such instances.
Stalberg reports some of the long lines have dissipated, but that he expects they will again build later this afternoon and right up to the 8 p.m. poll close. Again, anyone who is in line at 8 will be allowed to cast a ballot, but you will not be able to get in line after 8 p.m.
9:30:
Report from Delaware where a huge line winds its way out of the 1st District polling place at the Wilmington Music School. That’s Biden country, and a voter calls it the longest line she’s ever stood in to cast her ballot.
9:20:
Another problem reported, this time in the city of Chester. Caller reports that he arrived at the polling place around 6:30 a.m. and there already were 100 people in line and the number was growing. Unfortunately when he got inside the polling place in the 2400 block of East 24th Street, there was only one voting machine.
9:02:
About 60 people were in line at the Rachel Kohl Library to vote early this morning, but the line moved quickly and also thinned out a bit after the early rush. Craig Williams, the Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, arrived with his family to cast his vote just after 9 a.m.
8:54
Joe Biden walks into the polling place at Tatnall High School in Wilmington holding his mother's hand. His wife, Jill, accompanies them.
Hope there weren't people waiting in line. Biden walked right in. He exited and quickly was whisked away without making any comment.
8:52:
It’s easy to focus on the race for the White House. That would ignore some fairly important races, both here in Delaware County and across the state.
Most of Delaware County will be electing a new congressman, with Republican challenger Craig Williams trying to dump first-time incumbent Democrat Joe Sestak in the 7th District Congressional race.
The county also will be voting on a state senator. Republican Dominic Pileggi will face Democrat John Linder in the 9th District. Two new faces will look to replace Sen. Connie Williams in the 17th District. Democrat State Rep. Daylin Leach is facing off with Republican Lower Merion Councilman Lance Rogers.
We also elect the entire state House, along with statewide row offices, attorney general, auditor general and treasurer.
8:50:
You can’t say you weren’t warned. No less an authority than Gov. Ed Rendell indicated during a stop at 69th Street Terminal yesterday that voters should be prepared to stand in long lines.
He wasn’t kidding.
Across the state, long lines are being reported this morning.
At First Presbyterian Church in Allentown, 160 people were lined up to vote by the time polls opened at 7 a.m. — the largest early turnout that church officials could remember.
At the other end of the state, about 20 people were lined up at the Dormont Presbyterian Church in suburban Pittsburgh when the polls opened.
In a couple of other congressional races, three longtime Pennsylvania incumbents from blue-collar districts were fighting for re-election.
Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a 12-term Democrat from northeastern Pennsylvania, faced a GOP rising star in Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, who has made a national name in his opposition to illegal immigration.
At the other end of the state, in northwestern Pennsylvania, Rep. Phil English, a seven-term Republican, was challenged by Kathy Dahlkemper, an anti-abortion Democrat and business owner.
Also in western Pennsylvania, powerful House Democrat John Murtha, a 17-term member, was in a tougher-than-expected race after making controversial comments about his constituents.
Murtha described western Pennsylvania as racist, apologized for the remark, then told another interviewer the area had been “really redneck” in years past. He’s challenged by William Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who moved to the district to run against Murtha.
In the state House of Representatives, Republicans were hoping to regain control while Democrats sought to expand the 102-101 majority they won in 2006. The Democratic caucus was so fractured after the last election that it was forced to accept a Republican as House speaker.
Control of the Senate was not in question.
Also on Tuesday’s statewide ballot was a single referendum question seeking voter approval for a $400 million bond issue to help pay for repairs to local water and sewer systems.
8:45:
A report out of New York City indicated many people began lining up as early as 4 a.m. at some polling places to avoid long lines, leading to erroneous reports that some sites were not opening on time. Unbelievable.
8:38:
Everyone is waiting for a bus carrying the Biden family to pull up at Tatnall School in Wilmington. There's already a crowd waiting in line to cast their vote. It will be interesting to see if the Democratic vice president waits in line, or if they move him to the front of the line.
8:36:
There's an image of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama arriving to vote in his home precinct in Chicago.
8:32:
More Delco sites reporting: 100 people in line at the Lansdowne Fire House at 7:45. That’s interesting because it also has a hot state legislative race where Democratic challenger Kevin Lee, a Lansdowne city councilman, is challenging longtime 163rd District Republican Rep. Nick Micozzie.
8:15:
An odd anomaly. A candidate is battling steep uphill odds. He is a challenger, facing a fairly well-known incumbent. Name recognition leans heavily in favor of his opponent. And that’s not all. He also faces a daunting challenge in terms of fund-raising. His opponent has a huge war chest adding to his advantage.
Sounds like the classic dilemma of so many Delaware County Democrats. Except for one thing. He’s not a Democrat. That is the uphill battle being waged by Republican Craig Williams, who is facing first-term incumbent Joe Sestak in the 7th District Congressional race.
Who would ever have thought that would happen? Then again, who would have thought Curt Weldon would have been shown the door after 20 years representing the 7th District?
Williams is a good candidate. He’s already indicated he will challenge Sestak again in two years if he’s unsuccessful today. Good for him.
There should be a place among our elected officials for a guy like Craig Williams.
*
8:05:
Some interesting numbers to ponder: Experts indicate 6 million people are expected to vote in Pennsylvania a crucial swing state in the presidential election. That is 65 percent of those eligible. If those numbers hold, it would be the second-highest turnout in history, second only to the 1960 presidential race between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
8:00:
This is not good. Report of a ceiling collapse at a polling place on Adair Road in the Toby Farms section of Chester Township.
7:58:
Co-worker who voted at Highland Park Elementary School in Upper Darby reports being No. 48 and standing in a line at 7:05.
7:57:
Another report in from Delco. Out in Havertown, poll workers were greeted by about 40 prospective voters already in line at the Brookline Fire Co.
*
7:45: Here’s the word for the day: Lines. Very long lines. First report in from Delco is from Holy Sprit Church on Franklin Street in the Secane section of Ridley, where long lines were formed even before the polls opened.
7:20 a.m. Weather is always an issue on election day. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, if you vote before mid-afternoon, you’ll likely be in better shape than if you vote later.
It should be cloudy but fairly mild through the afternoon. But around 2 to 3 o’clock, we are looking at an increasing chance of showers.
Better pack an umbrella. If you’re voting after work, you might find yourself standing in a lone line waiting to get into a polling place in the rain.
*
7:00 a.m.: We’re off. The Pennsylvania polls are now open. They will remain open until 8 p.m. Remember that the lines are going to be long, especially first thing, as people try to cast their ballots before heading off to work.
They will build again after dinner tonight.
If you can vote at mid-day, that’s probably your best bet to avoid a long line.
Also, remember if you are voting tonight, so long as you are in line at 8 p.m. you will be able to cast your vote, regardless of how long the line is. However, the line will be halted at 8. Meaning you will not be able to get in the line after 8 p.m.
Vote early, just don’t vote often!
*
6:45 a.m.: This just in … Barack Obama wins … in Dixville Notch.
I have never quite understood all the hoopla that surrounds the little town in New Hampshire that is traditionally the first to vote just after midnight. But it remains something of an election day tradition.
Actually this year even more of the luster of this vote is diminished because so many states have allowed early voting. Polls indicate Obama also is well ahead among early voters.
In Dixville Notch, Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a count of 15 to 6.
No, that doesn’t mean we don’t have to bother to cast our ballots.
*
6:30 a.m.: On your mark, get set … and wait!
The polls are open in New Jersey, and people already are waiting in line.
And in some areas of Pennsylvania, people also are standing in lines, a half hour before the polls are even set to open. One report in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia already indicates there are 100 people waiting in line to cast their ballot.
We will turn over the Heron’s Nest today to keep a running tab on how things are going on this historic election day.
If you have a story you want to share, give us a call at 610-622-8818. Or you can can send us an e-mail at editor@delcotimes.com. Or you can simply post a comment at the bottom of this blog.
It’s likely going to be a long day. Patience no doubt will be stretched thin. Let’s be careful out there.
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