The Free Press -- Independent News Media

Mon Oct 06 2008

Columns

Bob Fitrakis

Ohio primary voting off to slow start
March 4, 2008

COLUMBUS, OHIO 11:00AM -- Free Press reporters returned on Tuesday to the site of long lines and hours-long voting delays in the 2004 election and found low voter turnout, short waits and no major voting problems as Ohio's 2008 primary voting began on March 4th.

There were no reports of voter challenges of likely Barack Obama voters by apparent Hillary Clinton supporters. Ohio's primary is open, meaning people can cross party lines to pick a presidential nominee in any party.

At a dozen African-American majority precincts on the east side of Columbus, no more than 12 percent of the voters already cast ballots by Election Day, according to surveys by reporters. Typically, the lines were short, with the longest taking 15 minutes to vote. Compared to 2004 and 2006, there appeared to be twice as many voting machines and voters also were able to vote on a paper ballot if requested.

The apparently slow start of inner-city voting also was reported in Cleveland, where election protection staffers for People for the American Way reported a similar early turnout. The weather was rough across Ohio, with sleet in the morning in the north and rain elsewhere.

The slow start of voting is a striking contrast to the turnout in the 10 days of early voting in Ohio. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner predicted Ohio would set a turnout record on Tuesday.

Poll workers said they expected traffic to pick up after lunch and after the work, in the early evening.

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