Large voter turnout for recall election

[bemildred]

Here, suck on this until the returns start coming in ...

Voters are streaming steadily to
the polls today in many precincts,
including thousands of new
voters energized by the chance
to be a part of history, as
California decides whether to
send a political earthquake rolling
across the country by recalling
the governor of the largest state
in the nation.

From Arcata in the northern
reaches of California to San
Ysidro on the border between the
state and Mexico, poll workers
said they had plenty of work to do,
compared with recent elections.
Polls close at 8 p.m. PDT.

``This is the first time I've waited
in line to vote in 20 years,''
marveled David Mewes, 43, voting at Skyline Health Center in central San
Jose.

``This is way ahead of where we were last time,'' agreed Clifton Hodsdon, a
volunteer poll worker in the little town Felton, who said turnout was much
greater than in the last gubernatorial race, with a steady stream of about
50 voters an hour. The precinct at a Felton fire house was not
consolidated for the election, but two extra polling booths and three extra
volunteers were in place to handle the expected higher turnout.

San Jose Mercury

[KCDem]

1. I certainly hope that's a good thing.

I'm thinking it is. :fingerscrossed:

And why wouldn't people show up to vote? Gubernatorial elections only happen once a year, after all. :P

[Fozzledick]

4. Not if the recall passes

If that happens, the next one is in six months!:crazy:

[diplomats]

2. All I know is, there was a good turnout in 2002

and that turned out NOT to be good for us. A lot of these voters could be drawn to this because of the novelty of Arnold running. We'll see.

[MoonRiver]

5. NOT GOOD? Davis won. Is that bad?

Just asking.

[Zynx]

7. He was refering to national turnout.

However, it really wasn't that high, and minority turnout was very low last year.

[old_dad]

8. not true

The turnout in 2002 for the California Gubenatorial election was low, less than 50% of the registered voters turned out. About 7 million. That helped the redall effort because the number of signatures required was only 12% of the number of people who voted. Although they collected 1.6 million, they didn't need nearly that many. I think something like 900,000 were collected by paid collectors and not volunteers.

[Flying_Pig]

3. Let's remember, that a lot of Dem voters in this state are union,

blue collar, working people. Their employers don't usually give them time off to vote, so their votes won't be cast until this evening, after they get off of work. If the Hispanic vote is as large as projected by the Dems, that too won't be coming in until this evening because of the large number of working people in this demographic. I think all these reports of an early Arnie win are a bunch of gas cooked up by the Repug media, in order to discourage the late voters.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. I have a great story from my Grandmother about the 1960.....

election. The exit polls were projecting a respectable victory for
Richard (scumbag) Nixon. He LOST!!!!!\

Remember, the working class people must wait to get out of work to vote! This is NOT over yet!

[Goldust]

6. Are there any actual numbers?

All I see are people talking about having to stand in line and poll workers saying there are more people at the location than in November.

Keep in mind that most precincts have been consolidated and you have several voting at one location. That would account for the lines and the large numbers at the location, even if actual turnout is lower than in November.