After a long, strange campaign season, election day arrived Tuesday with few surprises locally.
As predicted in polls, Republican John McCain lost the general election to Democrat Barack Obama, but still won the majority of votes in this area, which is traditionally a Republican stronghold; and five local candidates were defeated easily when they ran as write-in candidates, which is considered a challenge in itself.
The biggest surprises were a voter turnout lower than the 2004 election in Atlas and Brandon townships and a power outage occurring at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in Atlas at Precinct #2 (Crossroads Church), that left voters in the dark for about two hours. Residents used about a dozen flashlights that Clerk Tere Onica ran out and bought to complete ballots that were processed with a battery-operated tabulator.
Despite the glitch, which was caused by Consumers Energy’s routine maintenance to a transformer, Onica didn’t have any complaints and said it brought everyone into a more cooperative spirit.
Voters in Atlas waited in lines in the morning, but not for long, Onica said. She noted that the township, which has boasted the best voter turnout in Genesee County in the past, had fewer ballots cast this election.
‘In 2004, we had 82 percent turnout, but this time I think it was lower,? said Onica, who didn’t have exact numbers at presstime. ‘I don’t know if we even had 70 percent turnout. I think a lot of people here didn’t want to vote for either candidate.?
Voter turnout was average in Groveland Township, said Clerk Pam Mazich. Of 4,340 registered voters, 3,126, or 72 percent, came out to vote.
‘I think the election ran very smooth considering the turnout,? she said. ‘No one waited much more than a half-hour.?
In Brandon Township, Clerk Jeannie McCreery said of 11,546 registered voters, 8,165 cast ballots, a 71 percent turnout, and also lower than 2004.
‘I was shocked,? she said. ‘I was expecting higher turnout, especially after we had 2,015 absentee ballots, a 65 percent increase over the 1,300 we had in 2004.?
It would have been difficult to guess that turnout would be down based on the long lines and heavy traffic at Brandon Fire Station #2 on Tuesday. The firehall houses voting booths for precincts 3 and 4 on election day and traffic was heavy all day.
At about 4 p.m., Sarah Alvarado, 59, said she and her daughter, Nikki Cook, 34, had been waiting in line for about 45 minutes. It was Alvarado’s third and final trip back to the fire station to vote? she saw even longer lines at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
She and Cook didn’t mind waiting this time.
‘I feel this is the most important vote we’ve had in years and years,? Cook said. ‘It’s the longest wait I’ve ever seen, but I honestly think it all stems from the economy? I think people are ready for a change.?
Both women said they had previously been staunch Republicans, but were crossing party lines to vote for Obama.
Tony Querio, 41, also said he believed the economy was motivating voters and noted his wife had waited more than two hours in line that morning.
‘The beautiful weather eases the amount of time spent waiting,? Querio said. ‘It doesn’t bother me.?
The unseasonably warm, clear November day undoubtedly made it easier for Courtney Moussiaux, 29, who brought her five young children to the polls.
She expected the wait, although she said she’d never seen a turnout of such magnitude.
‘I don’t have a particular issue,? Moussiaux said. ‘I’m thinking of the future for my children.?
Brandon deputies were on site and stopping traffic on busy Sashabaw Road when necessary for pedestrians crossing to vehicles parked across the street at Seymour Lake United Methodist Church. Dozens of vehicles were also parked on the grass next to the fire station and more were behind the fire station, parked at Seymour Lake Cemetery.
McCreery said she plans to change the precinct boundaries next year.
‘We’re going to even it out, so there is more even distribution of voters,? she said. ‘I can’t keep having the congestion we have there.?