Rec the Vote

Rec the Vote
Young voters cast the ballots, voices at student rec center
By Ben Flanagan
The Pulse

Lines stretched up to fifty feet in the awkward setup voters had to wade their way through at the Student Recreation Center on the University of Alabama campus. Booths, tables and people covered the floors of the lobby all morning and night as Tuscaloosa residents, most of them university students, arrived to cast their ballots in the 2008 presidential election, one that is sure to help rewrite the history books, no matter the outcome. Crowds grew consistently as the day carried on but never too high for the precinct officials to leave their chairs and take action. Rec Center patrons carried on their squat-thrusts and ab-crunches only a few feet away as Tuscaloosa's registered voters did their part to maintain and celebrate democracy.

Mary Scott Speigner, a UA student majoring in broadcast communication, arrived at the Rec Center around 10:45 a.m. just a few minutes before her next class at the same location. Speigner thought she would avoid the morning rush and beat the lunch break crowd as she stood in line for a brisk five minutes before receiving her ballot. For her, Tuesday's election had a particularly poignant meaning in terms of the direction the country will take shortly afterward even if her state has traditionally leaned towards one party.

"This is the most important election of my lifetime," Speigner said. "It means a serious change or a continuation of the last eight years. Even though Alabama is almost guaranteed to go for [John] McCain, I have hope that enough first time voters will come out to support [Barack] Obama in other states."

Speigner said she voted for Obama because of his understanding of the nation's demand for governmental change after two terms with current president George W. Bush.

"[Obama] represents all of the ideals and values that I hold," she said. "He represents a new generation of politics and has the best plan for the economic crisis. I think that his impressive campaign and ability to mobilize millions of people is a sign of what his presidency will be like."

Justin Wood, on the other hand, opted for McCain though not because he fully supports the Arizona senator and the elements of his political platform.

"I would not call myself a McCain fan," Wood, a UA senior majoring in telecommunication and film, said. "He was the lesser of two bad candidates for me. I am not a fan of Senator Obama's economic plan nor do I believe that he has the experience to run our country."

This election marks the second where Wood has been a registered voter. He turned eighteen just before the 2004 election when incumbent George W. Bush defeated Massachusetts senator John Kerry. Wood said he thinks voting is one of the greatest things this country has to offer its young people and that he does not understand why past elections have shown a low turnout for college students.

"Students should feel good because, regardless of the outcome, they've participated in the democratic process and that is something to feel good about." he said.

Although she does not share Wood's political ideals, Speigner agreed with his sentiments regarding the importance of student voting.

"Students should be proud that they have the opportunity to voice their opinions and choose the candidate of their choice," she said. "People die for our right to vote. It is the most precious gift that we have as Americans."

Melissa Kish, coordinator of informal recreation at the Rec Center, said the voter turnout was the greatest there had ever been at that particular location, the numbers reaching over 2,500 voters throughout the day. Kish said that it was important for young people to vote in general elections because of the toll the results will almost certainly have on their and their families' lives in years to come.

"The younger you can instill in people that voting is a responsibility and that it matters, the better the likelihood that they'll be active participants throughout their lives," she said. "For a lot of young people, some of these issues they're voting on will directly affect them."

A record 2,552 voters cast their ballots at the Rec Center, shattering the location's previous all-time high of 880, as reported by the precinct manager. That number is a 190 percent increase in overall voter turnout. Of those voters, 556 voted a straight Democratic ticket while 597 voted a straight Republican ticket. Senator McCain edged out Senator Obama 1303 to 1196 (a 52 to 47 percent margin).

The polls at the Rec Center opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.

More Facebook responses... so sad!

I must say, I was pretty shocked at the negative Facebook comments made by my friends...
I thought I, too, would share some of these comments...
All of these people's names go before the text provided
m = male
f = female

• will NEVER call him president (f)
• is buying a gun before january (m)
• is very disappointed in America.....forget a job, I'm going on welfare...what is it...spread the wealth? (f)
• is universal healthcare... way to go america. (f)
• is scared... (f)
• has no incentive to become successful anymore because it's all going to the lazy. Praying for the welfare of this country and hope we can pull this off ... (f)
• is disappointed. Get ready for the rapture. (f)
• is really not believing what America has come to... (f)
• is anxious to see how Obama "changes" our country. Anyone looking to illegally immigrate somewhere? (f)
• is scared for our country...i hope america is happy...because I'm sure Jesus isn't. (f)
• is can i please be a citizen in another country?? (f)
• is booooo. (f)
• is DEPRESSED!!!!! RIP freedom and America. (f)
• is wondering why shes trying to go to college to get a good job, when obama is willing to let others pay for her. (f)
• is woow this sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (m)
• is wondering what it's going to be like to live in a Communist country under Obama.... (f)
• is PLEASE PLEASE NOBAMA NOBAMA NOBAMA (f)
• does not know how people could actually vote for NOBAMA. (f)
• will NEVER call him president. Please return your seats to their full upright position. A sincere lack of experiece and expertise=it's going to be a bumpy ride. (f)
• The South will rise again (m)
• Niggy won (m)
• I have no experience in a very dangerous world. I'm scared for my life, and the future generations of America. (f)

Sorry that I posted so many, I kind of got on a roll... There are many more, but I'll stop here!

On another note - The one I like the best: "___ is thinking who cares if our president is black, white, old, young. RESPECT." I completely agree. It's not all about the color of his skin. Yes, it is an accomplishment, but is that the only reason people voted for him?? I sure hope not.

More Facebook perspective.

Here are some more microblogged political reactions:

So-and-so...

• doesn't smell what Ba-rack is cookin.
• is thankful that God is still in control..... othewise we'd be up a creek!
• wonders where we will move to.
  
• wonders why everyone is moving to Canada? I am going to Grand Cayman!
• congratulates President Obama. Sir, I hope you do a good job and keep this nation strong. I did not support you, but let's hope God knows what he's doing.
• didn't vote for him but he is the president of my country and he has my support.
• is getting ready for 4 years of it...hold your butts people...your change is coming...
• is now back to what's REALLY important-- college football-- right, right??

These are the kind of friends I keep, apparently.

The Facebook Perspective

The 18 to 30-year-old demographic seems to prefer to express itself through their Facebook status messages. In the 30 minutes or so after McCain has conceded the election to Obama, these are the obviously political sentiments (ambigious messages excluded) of my Facebook friends, in chronological order, from the moment McCain gave the speech:

(names have been replaced with ****)

**** saying congratulations to President-Elect Obama!!!!!

****YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!

**** woke up from her catnap just in time to see the official CNN projection. Yes we can make history.

**** is yes we can baby!

**** cant believe it!! What are we going to do?

**** is pleased with the election results and hopes this change is for real.

**** Wooooohoooooooo America its time for a change!!!!! OBAMA/BIDEN!! Let's get get get it!!!

**** is Wooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!! I'm so happy :-) Time for a change! Obama '08!!!

**** is so speechless!!! :(.

**** is worried about our country for the next 4 years...

**** is super bummed !

**** is so upset!!! How could this happen? What happened to morals and values???

**** is excited right now, despite his support for John Mccain. It's hard not to be excited, regardless of the person you want for president.

**** is buying more guns.

**** is so, so happy that Palin was not given the opportunity to be the first woman prez when McCain inevitably would have kicked it in office.

**** is so so so happy. :).

**** is hoping America is happy..

**** is praying for our country!

**** is so happy he's unemployed, he can't wait to take what's wrongfully his! Work Harder Rich Man, I'm gettin bedsores!

**** is wondering what next........

**** does not think the America is coming to an end and will not be moving to a foreign country.

**** is just now getting riled up.

**** wishes Sen. McCain supporters could exhibit half the class he has. Congratualations to our President elect Barack Obama!

**** is concerned for our country for the next 4 years...

**** has got a Uhaul truck ready to move Bush's a#% out the White House! I told yawll Obama 08 a long time ago!

**** is very happy and pleased with the election results! *Obama*.

**** is hopeful about America for the first time in years.

**** thinks everyone should CALM DOWN!! Everything will be ok because God is soverign, even over this election!

**** is bummed out that so many people seem unwilling to support the President-Elect. He will deserve your respect as President, people.

Related coverage: Voting incentives

I’d heard about some businesses offering incentives for folks to get out and do their civic duty: Starbucks and their free cup of coffee, Ben & Jerry’s and their free cup of ice cream, Krispy Kreme’s handing out free star-shaped sprinkle doughnuts and Chick-fil-A giving away chicken sandwiches to people with “I Voted” stickers. I decided to check out as many of these offers as possible.

One-quarter of my freebie hopes was dashed when an internet search told me the nearest Ben & Jerry’s was located about 20 minutes away in Birmingham. Even with the falling price of gasoline, I decided the ice cream was not worth my time or caloric allowance. The same with the Krispy Kreme doughnut, which, according to a friend’s report, would have been a bust, since her free doughnut was a plain ol’ glazed.

Free Starbucks coffee

Starbucks, however, is in the Trussville metro area, and I headed over that way at 6:25 p.m. Here’s how it went:

Barista: “Hi.”
Me: “Hi!”
Barista: “What can I get for you?”
Me: “Got any of that free election coffee?” [flashed my “I Voted” sticker]
Barista: “Sure. Regular or decaf?”
Me: “Regular, please.”
Barista: [hands me 12 oz. cup of java] “There you go.”
Me: “Have many people asked for free coffee today?”
Barista: “Oh, yeahhh...”
Me: “How many would you say?”
Barista: “I don’t know...a LOT. I just got here.”

Okay. On to Chick-fil-A.

Free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich

At 6:48, Chick-fil-A was pretty packed. The parking lot was almost at capacity, the line for the drive-thru was wrapping around the building and about 20 customers waited inside. After five minutes in line, I got up to the counter and asked the cashier if they were, indeed, offering free Election Day sandwiches. He grimaced and nodded. I felt a little weird, asking for just the free sandwich, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try the limited-edition peppermint chocolate chip milkshake. Good call. Three or four minutes later, my order arrived.

Me: “How many people do you think have ordered the free sandwich today?”
Cashier: “Hmm, let’s see...all of them.”

I doubt voting has ever been so popular here.

Rockin' the vote, TrussVegas-style.

This is how we rocked the vote in Trussville, Ala.

5 p.m.

My parents voted early in the day, around 11 a.m., and it took them about an hour to move through the line and cast their ballots. When I arrived home in Trussville around 3 p.m., Mom kept trying to shoo me out of the house to beat the 5 o’clock rush, and Dad called to tell me go to the bathroom before I went.

I neared my poll, located on the rather busy Highway 11, and was met with traffic control. Police cruisers lined the road, lights flashing, and two police officers directed traffic, letting drivers turn left out of the parking lot. A traffic sign advertised voter parking in the lot next to the municipal buildings.

At exactly 5 p.m., I pulled up to Trussville City Hall, voting precinct #4401 and got in the A-D line, the longest line there. Apparently, every Smith in the city voted before work, because the S-Z line was virtually empty. The other lines were E-K and L-R.

Ahead of me in line was Ryan Black, a returning voter. Black’s time estimate was much more hopeful than my parents’. “Thirty minutes total, in and out,” about the same as last presidential election, he said. Black said he thinks Barack Obama might win.

Even though it was the heaviest line, A-D moved long quickly. Black’s estimate wasn’t conservative enough: I completed my civic duty in a little more than 20 minutes. At 5:38, the lines had died down to a couple handfuls of people in each line. The line volunteers and legal representatives milled about with not much to do.

The demographic makeup of the evening voters had a good mix of young, middle-aged and older voters, though the majority were white, with a few blacks and few to no Hispanics or Asians.

Fresh off of bubbling in her ballot, Rebecca Tubbs gave me her impression of today’s election process. Tubbs said she figures Trussville, and the entire state of Alabama, will choose John McCain as our next president. “It may be close,” she said, “but I still say McCain, because we’re one of the southern states,” which are traditionally vote Republican.

When asked about businesses’ voting promotions, such as free coffee at Starbucks and a free doughnut at Krispy Kreme, she said she wouldn’t mind a delicious freebie, but that’s not what voting is about.

“I’m indifferent to them, because you shouldn’t be rewarded for having free choice,” Tubbs said. “Whether you choose to partake in the voting is your own choice,” and incentives shouldn’t motivate you.”

What would your reaction be tomorrow if your candidate didn’t win?

“I won’t be broken-hearted,” she said, “but at least my voice was heard and my voted counted, and I will try my hardest to support who won, because that’s our duty. Whether or not we agree with him, we voted for him as a group, therefore we have to support the majority’s decision, whether or not it’s the best direction for the country.”

6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., what was left of the post-work rush had dissipated. Guess it was all right that I decided not to bring a book while I waited.

On the way back to my car, I decided to pay the folks at the LifeSouth Blood Mobile parked next door. I asked Tiffany Rowe how many voters rocked the party bus for Election Day.

At 26 to 27 visits already, “donations have been great,” she said. With an hour to poll closing time, Rowe said she expected a total of about 30 donations – pretty good numbers compared to high school blood drives, which attract about 150 to 200 donors, she said.

And what are Rowe’s political projections?

“I really think Obama’s going to take it,” she said. With such a diverse group of supporters, she said, “it’s going to be very, very close either way.”

Closing time at the UA Student Rec - update #3

I went back to the UA student rec center, ward 27, at 6:45 this afternoon. I stayed and observed until 7:05. The atmosphere was fairly quiet and not many voters were present. I counted the number of voters that entered this precinct to vote before the polls closed. A total of 31 voters came between this time period.

A Touching Election Day Story from Ward 46 in Tuscaloosa

I sat beside Doris Williams for the better part of an hour this afternoon. While she flitted from one voter to another, helping them fill out paperwork, another poll worker walked over, pushing a wheelchair that held a frail, elderly lady who looked to be in her 90s. She told the lady that Doris would help her.

The lady sat patiently silent for 20 minutes, until Ms. Williams walked over to ask if she needed something. The lady raised her wrinkled, shaking hand, and told her she’d like to vote, but that she didn’t know what to do. She lives in the retirement center where the polling was taking place, and hadn’t voted in years; she also hadn’t reregistered when her address changed to the center.

Ms. Williams asked for her ID, and she handed her an expired driver’s license. Her name was Mary Vivian Smith. Ms. Williams found her on the list. “Did you used to live on 32^nd Street?” she asked. Relief washed over Ms. Smith’s face, and she nodded yes. Then, the paperwork began.

When it was time for her to sign the forms, Ms. Smith looked embarrassed and said that her hand shakes too much for her to even write her own name. Ms. Williams had her mark an X (see above photo), and then, with Ms. Smith’s approval, she signed her name for her. 

After all of the paperwork was finished, the time came time for the ballot. Once she was presented with the ballot, Ms. Smith looked troubled and said, “Well, I don’t know who to vote for.”

Instead of getting frustrated, Ms. Williams sat down gingerly beside her and explained who was on each major-party ticket. “Well, I usually vote Republican…” Ms. Smith said, but she was hesitant. She finally made her decision and asked Ms. Williams to mark straight-party ticket of her choice. When it came to the amendments, she said, “Well, my eyes are so bad, I can’t read them. But I’m for education, so I want to vote for anything that helps education.”

 

(above) Doris Williams takes the time to mark Ms. Smith's ballot choices for her, since she is unable to do it herself. Beside them, another provisional-ballot voter searches for her own name in the inactive voters list.

After 20 minutes, the process was finished. Ms. Williams explained to her that her ballot was provisional, but since she was on the books, her vote would probably count. She then asked another poll worker to help Ms. Smith get back to her room in the retirement center. 

Before he pulled her chair away, she reached out a hand to Ms. Williams. With glimmers of tears behind her thick glasses, she held up her feeble arms for a hug, and told Ms. Williams that she was so thankful that she’d helped. Without her help, she said, she wouldn’t have been able to get it done. She just wanted to be able to vote.

I wondered, given Ms. Smith's age, if this might be her last election. I'm certainly glad she got a chance to vote. It seemed to make her happy.

Apologies for the blurriness of the pictures. They were taken with a camera phone.

Update #2 from the Rec Center

I returned to the UA Student Recreation Center at 12:30 this afternoon. I must admit that I was expecting a large lunch-time crowd. To my surprise, there were only about 60 voters in line. Out of those 60 voters, about 11 were African American and two others were from other races.
By this time the Student Rec Center was more organized. The lines were broken down by last name (A-F, G-N, O-Z). This will definitely help out around 6:00 this evening.
I imagined for the peak hours at this voting precinct to be 7:00 this morning, lunch time, and 6:00 this evening. I am anxious to see the voter turn out around 6:00!

I shall update again later on!

7am at the UA Student Rec Center

This morning, I pulled up to the Student Recreation Center on campus at 6:55. The parking lot was not yet full, but the inside was full of voters. I found my place at the end of the line at 7:00 on the dot. The atmosphere was failry calm. There was light chatter between friends and on cell phones.

I counted approximately 250 people in line before me. Of that 250, about 48 were African American and about 10 were of different races. There were people of all ages - some babies with their parents, a few middle aged people, about 25 elderly, but mostly college students. I only saw two people with Obama T-Shirts and three people with McCain stickers.

The line at the rec center snaked around the lobby and down the hallway. When I first got in line, there was no separation of the people in line; however, at about 7:25, the poll volunteer said, "Everyone with a last name O-Z, move over here. She moved us out of the large line to help the poll volunteers find last names on their list with more ease. After we dispersed ourselves, I had about 25 people in front of me and I was voting in no time.

In all, I waited 32 minutes from the time I got in line to the time I received my 'I Voted' sticker. People with last names beginning with A-M that walked in at the same time as I did waited 45 minutes to vote.

One University of Alabama student, Ashley McIntosh, said, "I arrived at 6:45. I was suprised that there were not that many people present. I expected more. It was a big unorganized, but overall I was pleased."Another University of Alabama student, Brittni Robertson, said, "I got there at 6:45 and by 7:00 a lot more people started showing up. I think voter turn out will be extremely high this year."In my opinion, voter turn out when the polls opened at 7:00 this morning was as I expected them to be.

Quick Update on Birmingham Voting

The voting crowd has died down drastically just before 5 p.m. at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Birmingham. The parking process is taking longer than the voting process and it is now taking about 5 minutes to vote.
About 2,700 people had submitted their ballots at 5 p.m.
The crowd is expected to grow as people get off work and as closing time draws closer.

Skyland Oaks Retirement Center a.k.a. Tuscaloosa Voting Ward 46

I arrived at the retirement home around 1 p.m. to find the parking lot full and cars parking along Hwy. 215. After finding a spot, I walked into the building to the sounds of terrible sobbing and screams. Someone had brought their two young children along to the polls. Lovely.

The line was only about 10 minutes long...maybe longer if your last name was in the H-J range. The demographic makeup of the voters was close to 50/50 African-American and white. There were also several young people present, though the age 40+ voters definitely outnumbered them.

I spoke to one young black woman who was voting for the first time. When asked what compelled her to come out and vote, she said, "Just want a different president."

After voting, I hung around Doris Williams, the lady in charge, for about an hour. She's been a poll-worker for at least 20 years. Ms. Williams was running the provisional ballot table, which was constantly busy while I was there. At any given time, there were at least four people standing at the table, waiting on her assistance. Provisional ballots are used when a person's name can't be found on the lists, or if they're registered somewhere else, but decided (for whatever reason) to vote at a different polling place. The young woman I spoke of above was one of these provisional ballot voters.

Ms. Williams told me that she was having to fill out more provisional ballots this year than she's ever seen. Her theory was that the new voters weren't checking where they're polling places were. The second most common reason for provisional ballot voters was that many of them had not gotten their absentee ballots in on time. Ms. Williams had to tell each one that there was a chance that their vote wouldn't be counted. If their names couldn't be found registered anywhere, the vote will get thrown out.

As of 1:30 p.m., the busiest time for the Skyland Oak Retirement Center polling place had been early morning. Ms. Williams said that everyone seemed to want to vote before work, and the place was full of people at that point. Approximately 1600-1700 Ward 46 voters had cast their ballots as of early afternoon.

More from the southern end of T-Town later.

-Rebecca

Update from UA

At 3:30, the line of ready voters at the Student Recreation Center wove around the voting booths and reached the doors. The students have come in strong numbers to voice their opinion.

Jim Patrie, inspector for precinct 27, was impressed by the student response. “We’ve had more of a turnout here than ever before,” he said. “It’s been steady since 6:45 this morning.”

1,500 votes were counted an hour or so earlier, Patrie said. He estimates that they have now reached about 1,800 votes.

Election Day part 2 by Jonathan Grass

The latter half of Election Day is seeing a much bigger turnout of voters at Ward 27, the University of Alabama Student Recreation Center. The three lines, which are organized by last name, are stretching out the door at this point.

Jim Patrie, the inspector at this ward, estimates that there have been over 2,000 votes cast here so far. Also, Fox 6 is recording the action for broadcast.

Most of the polling officials are too busy to comment at this point, but students are very eager to express their opinions. The lines are abuzz with discussions of hopeful outcomes. The economy seems to be the most common issue influencing candidate choices.

The lobby's television is tuned to CNN. Students are congregating on its surrounding couches to keep up with the exit polls. Ward 27 will stay open until 7 p.m., and the results will be posted at the Student Recreation Center at 8:30 p.m.

Voting at the University of Alabama

Students from the University of Alabama went to the Student Recreation Center in a steady stream this morning to cast their votes. Three lines helped alphabetize the voters and sped up the sign-in process.

With ballot in hand, voters entered one of the seven booths available with red, white and blue curtains for privacy. Some voters used nearby tables and chairs to mark their ballots instead of waiting on a booth.

Most students seemed happy with their voting experience. Brittany Worthy, sophomore, said the volunteers were “friendly and glad to see us there.”

“It was not as long as I expected,” Alisha Linam, senior, said about the wait time. Several students reported getting through the lines in five to ten minutes.

Voting in her second Presidential Election, Elizabeth Laera, master’s student, approached this election as objectively as possible, without allowing biased opinions to effect her vote. To prepare she “stayed away from the debates and mainstream media. I checked the candidates’ official websites to see their stance on the issues.”

Voting Precinct 14, Congressional District 6 Report

Traffic in the district was heavy when polls opened at 7 a.m. The location--Church of the Highlands, located off Highway 119--was spacious and had several tables serving voters. Despite this, several voters reported that they had stood in line for over 30 minutes. From 1-2 p.m. voting was slow with little to no wait time. Reasons cited by polling staff were lunch breaks traditionally end at 1 p.m., so most potential voters had returned to work. The majority of voters observed were middle-aged and white.

The mood was generally good-natured,with realtively little discussion within the polling location and a few hushed coversations outside.

"I voted for Obama, even though I know my votes doesn't count since all of Alabama's electoral votes will go for McCain," said one voter. "But I showed up anyway to do my part." 

"This is what people fought and died for," added another. "It doesn't matter who wins or loses."

Voters interviewed were not asked for names. All voters interviewed expressed satisfaction with the way the polls were operated.

Reflecting today, change for tomorrow

After much reflection about today's exciting event and after talking to several people, it is very exciting to have been a part of something that has made history.

Many people are anticipating change in our government and economy. This trickles down to lower gas prices, ending the war, better leadership, and more.

Hopes of change and knowing that we have truly made a difference made this day historically special. The process won't happen overnight. However, with much patience, effort, and prayer, things can turn around for the better. That was today's motivator and tomorrow's hope and expectation.

Voting in Birmingham

The voting process has been hectic today at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Birmingham. Lines have been long and the parking lot has been filled all day. Around 1,500 people had submitted their ballots at 11 a.m.
It had been like that all day said Jane Brown, one of the directors.
The lines were separated into four groups by letter of last name. The wait for many people was about twenty minutes, but if your last name was in the L through R range the wait was about three or four times that. "I finally made it," one lady said as she got her ballot.
There were four secret ballot boxes lined up in the middle of the emptied out room and also four or five tables where people could sit and fill out their ballots with a cover sheet.
Their was confusion amongst some of the voters and the directors were having to answer several questions. Many people waited in the long, winding L through R line not knowing that they could go on past if they did not fall into that category. There were men directing traffic in the parking lot to control the constant traffic flow.
There did not seem to be much frustration though and voters were very friendly. One lady even joked in the parking lot, "Did you get the deed done?"

Election Day by Jonathan Grass

It's Election Day, and the polls have been open for four hours now at the Student Recreation Center at the University of Alabama. This is a day many people here have been anticipating for months and even years.

The expectations are abuzz as many students and nonstudents file in and out of the booths trading completed ballots for "I Voted" stickers. An average of 30 people are standing in three lines to cast their votes at any given time. They file in and out of seven voting booths. Nine volunteers maintain the lines.

Despite the numbers, the lobby is quiet as students pay strict attention to the task at hand. This is quite atypical for a building where young people go to play and exercise.

A representative of the Democratic Party of Alabama distributes handouts with ample ballots to people entering the building and a surveyor for student political opinions awaits nearby to question random voters on their way out.

Excitement and enthusiam at the polls

This morning, as early as 6:30 a.m., a long line made its way through the food court of the McFarland Mall. Lines wrapped all the way around Dillards.

Tables and booths were set up on the inside for the voters' conveineince. The atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation. Voters waited patiently in line for close to an hour. Many chatted with friends, talked on cell phones, or regulated their children.

One lady passed by and said, "I've never seen a voter turnout like this before."

Many people voted for the first time either due to age or the exciting interest in this election.

Everyone wanted to get in on the action. I was stopped by a reporter at the Tuscaloosa News, Ken Bell, to do a short video interview.

I was also stopped by a woman passing out red flyers that named all the democratic candidates in the election.

Many people believe that change is about to take place and it begins with this election that has made history.

Lines in Jacksonville, Saks & Golden Springs, too

At right is the view from my spot in line at Jacksonville's First Baptist Church this morning at about 7:05. I arrived just as the polls were opening, and by the time I cast my ballot 20 minutes later 97 other voters had slid their ballots into the optical scanning machine.

My father, who lives in Saks, called to report he was the 148th voter at the Church of the Covenant in Lenlock this morning, which he says is many more people than he expected to see. He was on his way to work at The Donoho School, which is being used as a polling place. Students will eat lunch outdoors in today's beautiful weather while ballots are cast in the cafeteria.

As I headed for the newsroom this morning, cars lined Garnder Drive around Jacksonville's Glenwood Meadows polling place, and the parking lot was full at the National Guard Armory.

Features Editor Laura Tutor adds the following from Hodges Community Center in Golden Springs:

I've been voting in Anniston for 16 years and have never seen such a turnout.

My polling place -- Golden Springs Community Center -- is about two blocks from my house. At 7:02 this morning, cars were parked all along Spring Valley Road and along both sides down some of the side streets.

About 100 people were already in line, and more traffic was backed up on the residential roads leading to that area. I had to get the kids to school, so I abandoned my traditional plan of voting first thing in the morning. I'll be back this afternoon when I have time to wait in any line.

George Smith reports a two-block line in Saks, and he was the 200th person in line this a.m. He says, however, that the lines are moving fast and it took him only 15 minutes to cast his ballot.

More lines

A view from the Silver Run Chapel polling place just south of Oxford on Alabama 21 around 7:15 a.m. today.

The View From the Middle of the Polling Line in Tuscaloosa

The sign at the door read, “No Campaigning Within 25 Feet Of This Point”. The bold red letters on white background signified the culmination of the 2008 Presidential Election.

At the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex polling station the line had already reached the parking lot 20 minutes before the doors where set to open at 7:00 am. The crowd that stood in the chill air was visibly anxious to get things under way.

While waiting in line I took the time to speak to the gentleman behind me about his feelings on such a historic day. John Randle explained that this was the best turnout he had seen in 20 years of voting at the Annex.

“It says a lot about what is going on in this country and that no matter which way this election goes we will get behind whichever candidate is elected President,” stated Randle. With an election that has become heated at times and has always been close, Randle’s view of how the country should feel after its over is important.

As the lines of voters begin to file inside Randle’s words hang in my mind. This morning we make a choice as individuals, but soon we will find out who we will be united under our 44^th President.

Polls open to long lines

As expected, turnout has been especially heavy at the polls this morning. Long lines have greeted voters from Piedmont to Ashland as residents take part in the historic 2008 election.

Apart from the well-publicized presidential race, voters in east central Alabama will be deciding tight races for U.S. Senate, the 3rd Congressional Seat and 3rd district seat on the state board of education.

Additionally, voters in Cleburne and Randolph counties will decide on legalizing alcohol sales.

Statewide, voters will decide the fate of Amendment 1, which would allow Alabama's schools to draw temporarily from the state's rainy day fund.

A complete list of The Star's endorsements can be found here.

Cleburne Results

These weren't available at press time last night. Here's the Cleburne County tally:

Probate Judge: Ryan Robertson, R — 3,305 votes, 80.22 percent; Pete Jackson, D — 813 votes, 19.73 percent.
County Commission District 2: Tracy Lambert, R — 539 votes, 50.05 percent; Beverly Casey, D — 537 votes, 49.86 percent.
County Commission District 3: Dwight Williamson, R — 640 votes, 54.19 percent; Jerry Stapler, D — 540 votes, 45.72 percent.
County Sheriff: Joe Jacks, D — 2,907 votes, 97.22 percent; Write-in votes — 83 votes, 2.78 percent.
Coroner: Rudy Rooks, D — 2,900 votes, 98.98 percent.
Board of Education District 2: Lance Taylor, D — 799 votes, 99.50 percent; Write-in votes — 4 at .5 percent.
Board of Education District 4: Ted Campbell, D — 674 votes, 98.68 percent; Write-in votes — 9 votes at .5 percent.
Circuit Judge, 7th Circuit: Malcolm Street, D — 2,503 votes, 98.7 percent; Write-in votes — 33
votes at 1.3 percent.
Circuit Clerk: Jerry Paul Owen, D — 2,948 votes, 98.60 percent; Write-in votes — 42 votes at 1.4 percent.
Contact Matt Kasper at mkasper@annistonstar.com or 235-3546.

Morning update: Who controls the Senate?

Re control of the Senate: Not too much has changed since this morning's paper went to press.
Here's the latest from Reuters:
Reuters:

"A potential recount and possible legal challenges in Virginia could delay the final result, dredging up memories of the 2000 presidential election recount that lasted five weeks.
"Virginia Democrat James Webb had an 8,000-vote advantage over Republican Sen. George Allen out of more than 2 million cast. A recount could stretch into December, leaving Senate control uncertain.
"In Montana, Democrat Jon Tester also held a narrow lead on Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, but a final result was not expected until later on Wednesday."

Calling Calhoun County's District 2 Commissioner

I covered Calhoun County's District 2 Commission Seat, which is now a lock for the incumbent, Democrat Robert Downing. This will be his fourth term.

Downing has said his district is one of the fastest growing in the county and one that trends Republican. He has faced a general election challenge in every race since 1994. This year he ran against Jimmy O'Dell Chairman of the Anniston Water Works and Sewer board.

O'Dell did not concede until 12 out of 13 of boxes reported. (The 13 usually consists of provisional ballots. Ninety-two percent of votes were counted by a little after 10 p.m.)

Downing's victory seemed certain around 9 p.m. Wanting to catch him in the midst of his celebration, I swung by his house in the way back from the Calhoun County Sheriff's office. Downing was very happy, as one might expect, and I received multiple offers of champagne and food, which I politely declined.

Because of a tight deadline, I was unable to make it out to O'Dell's home in Golden Springs, but he was very polite to me and was clearly disappointed by his loss.

That's the thing about covering these small, local races; most of the men and women I meet who are running for office do it because they genuinely believe they have something to offer their community. They're good folks. And one of the worst parts of this job is having to interview a good man who's just lost a relatively clean race in his most vulnerable moment.

O'Dell took his licks, but I hope it isn't his last foray into the political arena. Democracy is always in need of good people.

Hail and farewell

The frequent knock against Lucy Baxley, throughout her campaign, was that she failed to define herself, particularly in contrast to a popular incumbent like Bob Riley.

Tuesday night, in an elegant and statesmanlike concession speech, she defined herself thus:

"To come from where I grew up in Alabama, dreaming that one day I could serve you, the great people of this state, in public office, and then allow you to have me serve eight years as your state treasurer, and then as your lieutenant governor, and stand before you tonight as the Democratic nominee for the governor of the state of Alabama, it is a victory. It is a victory for the American dream, of what can happen in Alabama."

53 of 54 precincts

VOTES PERCENT
Calhoun County
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 53 98.15
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 29,923

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 5,133 58.52
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,639 41.48
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 21,151

FOR GOVERNOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 11,733 39.70
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 17,525 59.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 297 1.00
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 410

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 14,517 49.36
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 14,834 50.44
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 58 .20
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 554

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 8,158 27.74
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 20,606 70.07
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 633 2.15
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 555

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 12,430 42.95
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,486 56.96
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,021

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,786 77.45
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 806 22.41
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 197

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12
(WITH 43 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 97.73%)
DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 18,687 98.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 379 1.99
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,092

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32
(WITH 13 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.86%)
BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,998 72.35
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,142 27.56
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 188

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35
(WITH 9 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90%)
STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 3,422 65.07
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 1,833 34.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 222

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36
(WITH 13 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.86%)
RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 6,128 98.38
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 101 1.62
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,992

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40
(WITH 23 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 95.83%)
LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 5,946 51.58
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 5,553 48.17
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 29 .25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 396

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,883 51.12
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 14,195 48.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 849

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 19,013 97.95
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 397 2.05
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,542

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 11,263 41.03
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 16,159 58.87
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,513

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 11,131 40.59
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,266 59.31
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,538

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 11,868 42.78
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 15,843 57.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,223

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 12,212 45.04
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 14,877 54.87
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,848

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 12,742 47.61
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 13,998 52.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,198

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 11,598 43.31
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 15,155 56.60
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,186

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 11,470 42.72
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,347 57.16
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 30 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,115

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 11,473 42.91
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,243 57.00
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,221

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 12,948 47.93
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,049 52.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,948

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 11,379 40.36
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 16,795 59.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 22 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,766

FOR STATE TREASURER
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 10,383 37.08
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 17,599 62.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,960

FOR STATE AUDITOR
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 12,197 44.93
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 14,928 54.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 21 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,814

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 16,151 58.45
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 11,464 41.49
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .05
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,331

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 15,205 54.66
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 12,591 45.26
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 21 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,144

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,437 52.26
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 13,162 47.65
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,337

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 21,585 98.75
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 274 1.25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,098

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 16,806 59.32
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 11,501 40.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,631

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 19,564 98.22
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 355 1.78
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,035

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 20,488 98.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 258 1.24
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,211

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 21,284 98.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 217 1.01
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,458

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 16,360 56.51
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 12,574 43.43
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,010

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 3,222 99.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .77
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 630

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2
(WITH 12 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.31%)
ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 4,246 60.53
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 2,763 39.39
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 316

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3
(WITH 10 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90.91%)
JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 4,135 97.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 123 2.89
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,672

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4
(WITH 9 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90%)
J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,726 97.50
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 121 2.50
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,676

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5
(WITH 14 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 93.33%)
RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 4,488 98.81
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 54 1.19
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,754

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 19,445 66.31
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 9,844 33.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 37 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 636

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,720 52.74
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 13,160 47.15
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 31 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,051

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE
NO. 1-7
VOTE FOR 7
(WITH 44 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 97.78%)
MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 7,535 8.78
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 6,283 7.32
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,243 4.94
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 5,670 6.61
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 6,264 7.30
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 4,227 4.93
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 6,614 7.71
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,938 9.25
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 7,252 8.45
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 7,534 8.78
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 6,772 7.89
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 7,150 8.33
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,248 9.61
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 88 .10
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 19,127

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,716 45.66
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,371 54.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,865

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,791 58.91
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,621 41.09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,546

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3)
(WITH 53 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 98.15%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,792 59.04
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,487 40.96
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 11,670

50 of 54 precincts reporting

VOTES PERCENT
Calhoun County
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 50 92.59
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 27,283

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,787 59.42
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,269 40.58
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 19,227

FOR GOVERNOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 10,895 40.47
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 15,745 58.49
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 280 1.04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 363

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 13,424 50.10
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 13,320 49.71
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 53 .20
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 486

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 7,548 28.19
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 18,632 69.57
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 589 2.20
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 11 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 503

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 11,457 43.46
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,884 56.45
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 918

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11
(WITH 11 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 84.62%)
JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,741 77.54
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 789 22.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 195

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12
(WITH 40 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 90.91%)
DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 16,798 98.05
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 334 1.95
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,421

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32
(WITH 12 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 85.71%)
BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,946 72.58
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,109 27.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 182

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35
(WITH 8 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 80%)
STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 3,381 65.26
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 1,796 34.67
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 216

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36
(WITH 10 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 71.43%)
RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,479 98.55
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 66 1.45
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,373

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40
(WITH 22 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 91.67%)
LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 5,843 51.52
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 5,470 48.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 386

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,761 51.89
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 12,727 47.99
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 32 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 763

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 17,215 97.92
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 366 2.08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,702

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 10,415 41.65
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 14,565 58.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,275

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 10,295 41.21
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 14,662 58.69
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 26 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,300

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 10,940 43.28
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 14,308 56.61
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 27 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,008

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 11,281 45.66
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 13,403 54.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,574

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 11,785 48.33
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 12,576 51.57
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,899

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 10,718 43.93
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 13,657 55.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,885

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 10,596 43.33
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 13,830 56.56
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 28 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,829

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 10,592 43.50
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 13,735 56.41
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,933

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 11,964 48.61
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 12,633 51.32
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,669

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 10,520 41.00
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 15,118 58.92
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,625

FOR STATE TREASURER
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,612 37.70
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 15,869 62.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,786

FOR STATE AUDITOR
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 11,278 45.60
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 13,436 54.33
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,551

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 14,906 59.18
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 10,265 40.76
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,097

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 14,007 55.29
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 11,308 44.63
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,948

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,350 53.08
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 11,780 46.83
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 23 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 2,130

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 19,732 98.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 260 1.30
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,291

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE
NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 15,340 59.55
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 10,398 40.36
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 24 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,521

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 17,734 98.21
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 323 1.79
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,226

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 18,773 98.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 247 1.30
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 8,263

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 19,458 98.94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 208 1.06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 7,617

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 14,986 56.89
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 11,339 43.04
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 940

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1
(WITH 11 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 84.62%)
JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 3,164 99.22
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .78
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 623

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2
(WITH 9 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 69.23%)
ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 2,924 61.16
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 1,852 38.74
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 215

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3
(WITH 9 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 81.82%)
JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 4,076 97.09
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 122 2.91
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,652

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4
(WITH 8 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 80%)
J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 4,675 97.48
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 121 2.52
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,651

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5
(WITH 13 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 86.67%)
RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 4,408 98.79
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 54 1.21
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,716

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 17,706 66.27
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 8,977 33.60
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 565

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 13,602 53.43
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 11,828 46.46
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 29 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,824

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE
NO. 1-7
VOTE FOR 7
(WITH 41 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 91.11%)
MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 7,313 8.83
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 6,094 7.36
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 4,120 4.97
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 5,509 6.65
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 6,069 7.33
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 4,085 4.93
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 6,370 7.69
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,668 9.26
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 6,968 8.41
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 7,249 8.75
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 6,500 7.85
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 6,879 8.30
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,938 9.58
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 84 .10
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 18,448

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,858 45.16
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,544 54.84
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 9,881

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,479 58.66
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,795 41.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,009

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3)
(WITH 50 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 92.59%)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,777 58.62
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,903 41.38
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 10,603

30 of 54 precincts reporting

PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 54) . . . . . 30 55.56

BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 16,494

STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

DEMOCRATIC (DEM) . . . . . . . . 3,096 63.38
REPUBLICAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 1,789 36.62
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 11,609

FOR GOVERNOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LUCY BAXLEY (DEM). . . . . . . . 6,833 41.99
BOB RILEY (REP) . . . . . . . . 9,285 57.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 155 .95
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 221

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JIM FOLSOM, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 8,330 51.41
LUTHER STRANGE (REP). . . . . . . 7,840 48.38
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 34 .21
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 290

FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE, 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GREG A. PIERCE (DEM). . . . . . . 4,805 29.75
MIKE ROGERS (REP). . . . . . . . 11,009 68.15
MARK EDWIN LAYFIELD (IND) . . . . . 333 2.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .04
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 341

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JOHN TYSON, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 7,226 45.32
TROY KING (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,705 54.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 549

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 11 (WITH 9 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 69.23%)

JIM PREUITT (DEM). . . . . . . . 2,392 76.77
JIM HETHCOX (REP). . . . . . . . 720 23.11
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .13
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 183

FOR STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT NO. 12 (WITH 21 OF 44 PRECINCTS COUNTED 47.73%)

DEL MARSH (REP) . . . . . . . . 9,439 98.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 192 1.99
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,564

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 32 (WITH 9 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 64.29%)

BARBARA BIGSBY BOYD (DEM) . . . . . 2,444 73.55
BEN LITTLE (REP) . . . . . . . . 875 26.33
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 156

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 35 (WITH 4 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 40%)

STEVE HURST (DEM). . . . . . . . 1,348 69.27
LONNIE C. ROBINSON (REP) . . . . . 596 30.63
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 87

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 36 (WITH 6 OF 14 PRECINCTS COUNTED 42.86%)

RANDY WOOD (REP) . . . . . . . . 2,943 98.66
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 40 1.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 838

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT NO. 40 (WITH 12 OF 24 PRECINCTS COUNTED 50%)

LEA FITE (DEM). . . . . . . . . 3,361 48.67
TOM SHELTON (REP). . . . . . . . 3,524 51.04
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 20 .29
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 256

FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

SUE BELL COBB (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,570 53.46
DRAYTON NABERS, JR. (REP) . . . . . 7,439 46.40
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 22 .14
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 463

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

CHAMP LYONS, JR. (REP) . . . . . . 10,155 97.70
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 239
2.30 Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,100

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GWENDOLYN THOMAS KENNEDY (DEM) . . . 6,508 43.18
TOM WOODALL (REP). . . . . . . . 8,548 56.71
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,422

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

ALBERT L. "AL" JOHNSON (DEM) . . . . 6,483 42.99
LYN STUART (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,582 56.91
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,413

FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, PLACE NO. 4 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JOHN H. ENGLAND, JR. (DEM). . . . . 6,879 44.98
GLENN MURDOCK (REP) . . . . . . . 8,398 54.91
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .12
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,199

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

RAY VAUGHAN (DEM). . . . . . . . 7,085 47.52
TERRY MOORE (REP). . . . . . . . 7,809 52.37
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,583

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

KIMBERLY HARBISON DRAKE (DEM). . . . 7,365 50.07
CRAIG PITTMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 7,332 49.85
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,785

FOR COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JIM MCFERRIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 6,776 45.93
TERRI WILLINGHAM THOMAS (REP). . . . 7,963 53.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 13 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,742

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

AUBREY FORD, JR. (DEM) . . . . . . 6,713 45.52
GREG SHAW (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,019 54.37
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,746

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

CLAUDE E. PATTON (DEM) . . . . . . 6,683 45.47
KELLI WISE (REP) . . . . . . . . 8,003 54.46
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,798

FOR COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE, PLACE NO. 3 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

DEBORAH BELL PASEUR (DEM) . . . . . 7,540 50.69
SAM WELCH (REP) . . . . . . . . 7,324 49.24
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,620

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

NANCY L. WORLEY (DEM) . . . . . . 6,596 42.58
BETH CHAPMAN (REP) . . . . . . . 8,886 57.36
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,002

FOR STATE TREASURER (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

STEVE SEGREST (DEM) . . . . . . . 6,075 39.52
KAY IVEY (REP). . . . . . . . . 9,284 60.40
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 12 .08
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,123

FOR STATE AUDITOR (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JANIE BAKER CLARKE (DEM) . . . . . 7,116 47.71
S. SAMANTHA "SAM" SHAW (REP) . . . . 7,790 52.23
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,578

FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

RON SPARKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 9,199 60.49
ALBERT LIPSCOMB (REP) . . . . . . 5,998 39.44
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 10 .07
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,287

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

JAN COOK (DEM). . . . . . . . . 8,745 57.17
JOHN RICE (REP) . . . . . . . . 6,537 42.73
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 15 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,197

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

SUSAN PARKER (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,293 54.59
PERRY O. HOOPER, JR. (REP). . . . . 6,882 45.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,303

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

MALCOLM STREET, JR. (DEM) . . . . . 12,101 98.75
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 153 1.25
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,240

FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE, 7TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

BRIAN HOWELL (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,679 61.91
RAY BRYAN (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,937 37.98
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 861

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 1 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LAURA BROWN PHILLIPS (REP). . . . . 10,501 98.06
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 208 1.94
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 5,785

FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, CALHOUN COUNTY, PLACE NO. 2 (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

GUS COLVIN (DEM) . . . . . . . . 11,530 98.74
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 147 1.26
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,817

FOR CIRCUIT CLERK, CALHOUN COUNTY (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

TED HOOKS (DEM) . . . . . . . . 11,931 98.94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 128 1.06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 4,435

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY JUDGE OF PROBATE (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

ALICE MARTIN (DEM) . . . . . . . 9,294 58.37
GEORGE E. SALMON (REP) . . . . . . 6,615 41.54
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 14 .09
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 571

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 1 (WITH 8 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 61.54%)

JAMES A. "PAPPY" DUNN (DEM) . . . . 2,399 99.30
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17 .70
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 425

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 2 (WITH 7 OF 13 PRECINCTS COUNTED 53.85%)

ROBERT W. DOWNING (DEM). . . . . . 2,218 64.93
JIMMY O'DELL (REP) . . . . . . . 1,196 35.01
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 .06
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 143

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 3 (WITH 5 OF 11 PRECINCTS COUNTED 45.45%)

JAMES "ELI" HENDERSON (DEM) . . . . 2,106 97.14
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 62 2.86
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 796

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 4 (WITH 5 OF 10 PRECINCTS COUNTED 50%)

J. D. HESS (REP) . . . . . . . . 3,335 97.54
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 84 2.46
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,126

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT NO. 5 (WITH 5 OF 15 PRECINCTS COUNTED 33.33%)

RUDY ABBOTT (DEM). . . . . . . . 1,837 98.66
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 1.34
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 723

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY SHERIFF (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

LARRY D. AMERSON (DEM) . . . . . . 11,004 68.10
JASON "HOSS" CAMPBELL (REP) . . . . 5,137 31.79
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 18 .11
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0 U
nder Votes . . . . . . . . . 335

FOR CALHOUN COUNTY CORONER (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

PATRICK BROWN (DEM) . . . . . . . 8,607 55.82
MARVIN SOUTHARD (REP) . . . . . . 6,795 44.07
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 16 .10
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 1,076

FOR MEMBER, CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLACE NO. 1-7 VOTE FOR 7 (WITH 23 OF 45 PRECINCTS COUNTED 51.11%)

MIKE D. ALMAROAD (DEM) . . . . . . 5,290 8.71
SHIRLEY MCGINNIS CASH (DEM) . . . . 4,320 7.12
ED DENHAM (DEM) . . . . . . . . 2,882 4.75
FRANCES HIGGINBOTHAM (DEM). . . . . 3,899 6.42
HOWARD "MOUSE" WALDREP (DEM) . . . . 4,399 7.25
DAVID L. ZEIGLER (DEM) . . . . . . 2,883 4.75
JANET J. BRITTAIN (REP). . . . . . 4,743 7.81
JUNE EVANS (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,746 9.47
DAVID C. GILMORE (REP) . . . . . . 5,303 8.74
DALE HARBIN (REP). . . . . . . . 5,438 8.96
PHIL MURPHY (REP). . . . . . . . 4,918 8.10
LARRY STEWART (REP) . . . . . . . 4,991 8.22
TOM YOUNG (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,824 9.59
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 65 .11
WRTIE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 13,188

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,762 45.62
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,676 54.38
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,056

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO (2) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,428 58.72
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,222 41.28
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 3,844

PROPOSED STATEWIDE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE (3) (WITH 30 OF 54 PRECINCTS COUNTED 55.56%)

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,828 58.34
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,162 41.66
Over Votes . . . . . . . . . 0
Under Votes . . . . . . . . . 6,504