(Updated 6:15 pm) Election Day – Open Thread

Finally, the day the U.S. Senate candidates and those seeking to be Majority Whip in the House of Delegates have all been waiting for – Election Day is here! Because, after today, we can all start talking about their campaigns!

Regardless, check this post throughout the day. As we get information, we will update it. One thing we do expect is that today will have light voter turnout – probably between 30 and 40 percent – so every vote matters and a campaign’s get out the vote strategy will be key.

We welcome your observations on today too. Please don’t be shy about leaving your comment and updating us on what you think is going on and what you have seen. Pictures are welcome! Please send any photos to jr@bearingdrift.com.

Happy Election Day! Celebrate democracy and go vote (write someone in if you have to)!

(Update – 6:15 – Andrew Schwartz) Chesapeake, VA (Precinct 052). Sen. Harry Blevins (14th District) – unopposed. Del. Barry Knight (81st District) – unopposed. Nothing to see there, but I did talk to Pete Burkhimer, and from his visits to Ron Villanueva’s precincts, he believes it looks pretty good for his (Ron’s) re-election. Turnout in precinct 053 is expectedly low, but contested precincts might expect 30-40% turnout.

(Update – 6:15 – Krystal Weeks) Marshall Precinct (Fairfax County): It has been a steady turnout and may have easily reached about 1,000 voters. Otherwise, it was pretty hard to tell how the GOP candidates will fare.

(Update – 4:41pm – Shaun Kenney)  Turnout in Fluvanna County is in the low teens for non-contested precincts, and in the upper 20s/low 30s for contested supervisor races.  Dodson signs and staffers are everywhere, while Garrett signs are literally non-existent.  Should be a good night for local conservatives, but I am exceptionally nervous about Garrett’s chances in Fluvanna — I could be wrong, I hope the western part of Fluvanna is turning out… but I am not optimistic about VA-22.

(Update -4:10 – Jason Johnson) A friend who works for Dave Nutter posted on Facebook that she personally witnessed Sen. John Edwards’ wife pull up a Nutter for Senate sign at a precinct in Roanoke. My friend promptly replaced the sign and exchanged words with Mrs. Edwards, who said the sign was “right where I wanted to walk.”

All remains quiet in Bedford County, although the plethora of campaign ads on local TV stations appears to have caused some confusion for voters. While I have heard no reports of voters going to the wrong precinct, one voter did emerge perplexed because she “couldn’t vote for that man who will lower my light bill.”

(Update -3:15 PM- Norman Leahy) what’s an election day without glitches? The State Board of Elections has witnessed a few:

The State Board of Elections, general registrars and the numerous volunteers in localities across the Commonwealth have worked very hard to ensure that today’s election would run smoothly and efficiently. While there have been some isolated issues, they have mostly been the normal Election Day issues. Some of the normal Election Day issues include properly booting up electronic pollbooks and making sure voting equipment is operational.

In Chesterfield County, electricity issues in the Pocoshock precinct were reported early this morning, but the polling place remained functional and no voters were turned away. Manchester Middle School also had power problems and used battery operated equipment and remained operational.

In Henrico County, approximately 954 voters in 19 precincts were not listed in the pollbooks even though they were at the correct polling locations. In those 19 districts they have switched to paper pollbooks. Henrico County followed the proper procedures and asked the voters affected to complete a provisional ballot.

In Fairfax County, for example in Rose Hill, there have been some issues regarding voter confusion and voters going to the incorrect polling location.

Isle of Wight experienced issues with using the electronic pollbooks and the voting machines. These issues were due to operator error.

In Giles County a voting machine went down. Officers of elections followed proper procedures and had voters cast paper ballots until a replacement could be programmed. This matter has been resolved.

There have been some complaints of political volunteers violating the 40 foot perimeter to the entrance to the polling place. However, these have been resolved at the local levels.

From the calls the State Board of Elections is receiving, it appears voters directly affected by redistricting mostly know their polling place has changed. However, many do not know how to get to the exact polling location. The State Board of Elections has a Google Gadget on its home page at www.sbe.virginia.gov. Voters can type in their address and find out their polling location and then click for directions to find out how to get from their home to the new polling location.

The last time the Commonwealth was electing both members of the House of Delegates, State Senate and comparable local offices was in 2007, with about thirty percent of voters turning out for elections. In terms of turnout, we have heard of heavier turnouts in localities that have competitive races.

(Update – 2PM – Norman Leahy) Democrats aren’t the only ones urging the “friends and family” vote. Commonwealth Attorney candidate (and former Delegate) Bill Janis just sent an email urging folks saying that because this may be a low-turnout affair, “the votes of your friends and family are doubly important.” Earlier today, Senate candidate Jeff Frederick sent an email blast saying “…talk to a friend, neighbor, family member and remind them to vote. Bring them with you.”

(Update – 12:45 PM – J.R. Hoeft) Today’s self-inflicted wound award winners go to supporters of Patricia Phillips, Republican challenging incumbent Mark Herring:

“An ad intended to attack Democratic state Sen. Mark Herring for his veterans’ services record backfired badly when the central image in the mailing turned out to be a photograph of a former Soviet officer.”

And Miller Baker, Republican challenging state Sen. George Barker, for reminding supporters they only have three hours left to vote – at noon. Of course, his graphic has an alarm clock showing the time as 4 p.m., but still….

(Update – 12:30 PM – Lynn Mitchell/Chris Saxman) Workers inside the polls in Augusta County are reporting heavy turnout. Is that trend holding statewide?

From Chris: There are several heavily contested races here in Augusta County for the Board of Supervisors. Two former chairmen of their respective parties – Kurt Michael and Marshall Pattie are running as Independents along with other Independents like David Karaffa. The primary issue goes back to a botched tax assessment and turnout is expected to be high. This is a very interesting case study in the growing trend towards independents running outside of the party structures. I expect several if not all of them to win.

(Update – 11:45 AM – Jason Johnson) An angry voter just stopped me on her way out of the precinct where I’m working to ask: “Where are the Democrats?” I explained that other than the token opposition Steve Newman has, no Democrat is on the ballot in Bedford this year. She mumbled something about not being able to understand why the Democrats weren’t fighting and walked-off. …Unfortunately for the Dems, she was alone, so she must not have had five like-minded friends to bring with her!

(Update – 11:30 AM – Jason Johnson) There’s nothing really noteworthy going on in Bedford County today. Turnout has been light but steady at the Saunders Firehouse precinct in Bedford County’s sole 19th Senate District precinct. There were three signs for Brandon Bell–all posted last night–but otherwise, no sign that he’s making a play for this heavily Republican area. Ironically, most voters told me that today’s vote was just “practice” for the “big one next year.”

(Update – 11:15AM – J.R. Hoeft) Received a GOTV email from DPVA that said to go vote and “Bring 5 Friends” – never mind whether they care about the issues or have any idea what they’re doing. Just bring 5 friends. Oh well, if I recall, George Washington finally got elected to the House of Delegates because he had a whiskey party. Thus is the nature of democracy, I suppose.

Tim Kaine’s email says, ” Republicans only need to pick up two State Senate seats to have complete control of state government and ram through the Tea Party’s extreme right-wing agenda.” Nice to see the former governor is FOR his party’s agenda. No shocker – more hyperbole and scare tactics from Democrats.

(Update – 10AM – Norm Leahy) Voted at Tuckahoe Elementary School in Henrico and the poll monitors said they were surprisingly busy. A long ballot, with General Assembly and local candidates up for election. The bulk of the races were uncontested (congratulations Sen. Stosch and Del. O’Bannon, on your victories).

But the competitive race is for Commonwealth’s Attorney, a soap opera affair featuring Republican-turned-independent (for the moment) Bill Janis, Republican Tom Geary (whom the party apparatus abandoned once it was discovered he possessed a functioning libido) and Democrat Shannon Taylor, who had no money and little organized support.

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About the author

JR Hoeft

Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.