Article Text

More than 100 people cast ballots at Madison Community Center before 8 a.m., an unusually busy start that soon left the parking lot full.

The vote tally had reached 167 by 8 a.m. The election chief said it was the first time in her six years working the polls that turnout had exceeded 100 voters before that hour. She noted that voting typically begins picking up at 8. By 8:30 a.m., every parking space was occupied.

Registration Clerk Susan Berkeley said the morning brought both a strong turnout and numerous spoiled ballots connected to ranked-choice voting. When that happened, an election worker escorted the voter and ballot to Berkeley, who marked the ballot “SPOILED,” provided instructions and issued a replacement.

Berkeley arrived at 5 a.m. and expected to remain through the day and evening until the work was complete.

Outside, Republican poll worker Robert McLaughlin handed out information from one side of the sidewalk while Democratic poll workers Linda Roman and Shirley Kauffman offered voting instructions from the other. The three came together for a photo as a gesture of bipartisan cooperation.

They described turnout as a steady stream, generally arriving a few voters at a time.

Students Allison Larmee and Hadley Griffin also returned with a familiar Election Day fundraiser for Model UN. Their table featured doughnuts, homemade cookies and rainbow Rice Krispies treats.

Larmee, working the table for the fourth and final year, said turnout appeared higher than she remembered from previous elections. She will be eligible to vote next year.

Griffin said she would turn 18 in mid-November—just too late to participate this time. She knew which candidate she would have supported but declined to reveal her choice.