Published: August 25, 2009 11:59 pm      

Turnout ‘steady’ in Grayson

GRAYSON — Despite predictions of a low turnout, precinct workers at Prichard Elementary in Grayson found several voters waiting when the polls opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday, and expected a rush between 5 and 6 p.m. as people arrived after work.

A few miles away in Hitchins, Angela Swint said there were only four or five people voting at Heritage Elementary when she cast her ballot Tuesday morning, and speaking to customers at Willard Milling Co. that afternoon she found only one other person in the community who had voted.

In Grayson, Mark and Missy Barker cast their votes along with their daughter, Alexandria.

“It’s our civic duty to come out and vote,” he said.

“We took her to register as soon as she turned 18,” his wife said, nodding toward their daughter, who said she had just participated in her second election.

Missy Barker later smiled as she added she had declined to give her mother-in-law a ride to the polls that day because they disagreed about who should be elected.

Hustling to catch a young boy in a hurry to get away from the polling place, Peggy Bradley of Grayson said voting is a way to do something for her community, and salute the nation’s veterans and active military.

“It wasn’t easy. You can see we have a baby and my grandson and I just came from work in Ashland,” she said with a laugh as she secured children in her vehicle and pointed her daughter inside to cast her own ballot.

“We are all busy, but it is an important thing, as an American, for us to do,” she said, adding the act of voting is a way “to be joyful for every opportunity we have.”

Paul Cline said his reason for getting out to vote was simple, “I always vote.” Cline said he did not like the negativity of campaign commercials on both sides of the party line, “but it didn’t affect the way I voted.”

Heather Wells said she also felt each vote would e important in the state senate election.

“I just figured it might be a close election,” Wells said.

Wells said she was also bothered by the negative nature of the campaigns, although those commercials weren’t a factor in her decision about which candidate to support.

“It didn’t sway me one way or the other,” she said.

Elaine Robinson made no secret of her vote for the hometown candidate as she exited the polls. When asked about the negative advertising by the candidates, Robinson said, “I didn’t like it all,” but admitted she never had any doubt about which candidate would get her vote.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.