What to Expect at the Polls|ABC 13

ABC 13 > News > Local News
» leer el artículo en español

text size: A | A | A

What to Expect at the Polls

posted 06/08/09 6:23 pm

search tags: poll • election • ballot

Please Upgrade To Flash!

Across the ABC-13 Viewing Area - Poll workers are preparing to open at 6:00 Tuesday morning.

In Lynchburg, they were picking up machines and supplies from the registrar's office. Unlike many places around Virginia, Lynchburg is also holding a local Republican primary. That's why workers will ask you if you want to vote with the Democrat or Republican ballot.

Pat Bower, Lynchburg Registrar - "The question does not say whether you consider yourself a Republican or a Democrat. That question is simply 'which ballot do you want to mark today?'. They are only entitled to vote one ballot, then we have to ask that question."

Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. Registrar Pat Bower expects turnout to be very low. She says absentee ballots are usually a good indication. Fewer than four-hundred have been requested.

Voters in Amherst County will see something new at the polls Tuesday.

Gone are the days of paper poll books. Starting Tuesday, they're going all electronic.

The county registrar says his poll workers have been trained on the new books. They'll still have the paper books as a backup, but he doesn't think they'll need them.

The new system is quicker and easier.

Gary Beasley, Amherst County Registrar - "But this is your new polling book, that contains all of the information that we can have the surrounding localities in here as well as every precinct is in here."

Gary Beasley says the State Board of Elections is pushing for the conversion to electronic poll books. Starting next year it will charge all precincts that still use paper books.

Email To Friend