Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Election Day: High turnout reported in some polling locations in Myrtle Beach

6 p.m. _ With about 90 minutes remaining until the polls close, Myrtlewood 2 on 38th Ave North had a 50 percent voter turnout. At 5:45 p.m., 658 of the precinct's 1,400 voters had cast ballots. Traffic was steady and poll worker Mary Henry said polls reported huge turnouts on the north end of town -- 89 and 85 percent of last year's turnout, she said, based on mid-day calculations.

4 p.m. - Voter turnout was light this afternoon in Holden Beach, N.C., where officials there said they are happy much of the focus is on the race in Carolina Shores. In Carolina Shores, the voting has been steady and likened to a presidential election. (By Steve Jones)

3:20 p.m. _ Precincts on the Southside of Myrtle Beach are seeing steady and higher traffic today, precinct workers say.

Archie Brazier, who's overseeing the Sea Oats 2 polling station at Midway Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 15 predicted a record turnout all over the city.

"I know it will be for us," he said. By 3 p.m., his precinct, which has 1,326 registered voters, had seen nearly 260 people come in, and he said the after-work rush is still to come.

He estimated the 4 voting machines there would see more than 350 votes today. If that's true, that's still less than 25 percent voter turnout, but much higher than he has seen in the 26 years he has been working the Sea Oats precinct at various locations.

He said 20 people were waiting in line when the polls opened at 7 a.m., but that's the only time today voters have had to wait for a machine. The voting goes fast because there are only two races -- for Myrtle Beach mayor and three open council seats.

2:50 p.m. - The voting for the two open seats on the Atlantic Beach Town Council is off to a slow and calm start. About 45 residents have cast their ballots at the community center, according to Stephanie Summons, poll manager. There are 403 registered voters in the town, she said. Town critic Paul Curry is challenging incumbent town council members Josephine Isom and Charlene Taylor. Just after 2 p.m., poll officials began opening sealed absentee ballots that will not be tallied until 7 p.m. when the polls officially close.

2:40 p.m. - Voting traffic has been steady today at Fire Station 3 on South Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. And the 190 votes cast so far today is more than some people saw in the entire 2005 election. Diane Watts, precinct manager, said there are 1,046 registered voters at this precinct known as Jetport. She didn't expect that total to be reached today.

"People don't realize that this is their right to vote. They take it for granted,'' Watts said. "We have guys fighting overseas for our right to do this."

Watts said there have been no problems with voting machines and there was no wait despite the traffic. (By Lorena Anderson)

2:36 p.m. - As of 2:30 p.m., 153 of 435 registered voters had voted at the Risen Christ Lutheran Church in Briarcliffe Acres. The poll workers are not from the town, for the first time, to avoid any perception of conflict of interest, said Bob Lauer, a Briarcliffe Acres election commissioner. (By Janelle Frost)

2:08 p.m. - As of 2 p.m., 221 of 1,400 registered voters had voted at J. Bryan Floyd Community Center on Possum Trot Road in North Myrtle Beach, according to Jean Boseman, poll clerk. Boseman said the turnout was high for a non-state election. (By Janelle Frost)

Many voters also talked about the newly renovated center and how much more room they had to vote.

1:47 p.m. - Officials in North Myrtle Beach say turnout is higher than expected at the fire station on 2nd Ave. South, according to Susan Trexler, poll manager. As of 1:30 p.m., 239 people voted. Trexler said officials expected 311 people to vote at the station today. That number will be surpassed. (By Janelle Frost)

1:25 p.m. _ Sixty-six people had voted at The Conway Senior Center (Racepath District) as of 1 p.m. Officials there called it a slow start. Another 140 people voted at the Conway Library on Main Street while 64 voted at the Horry County Courthouse, officials said. (By Tonya Root)

Earlier today, Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes cast his ballot when the polls opened at 7 a.m. Rhodes voted at Oakview Baptist Church.

Come back for more updates as they come to the newsroom. This story has been amended to clarify turnout estimayes by Mary Henry.