Durham, N.H. - An unprecedented number of charged-up voters swarmed the Oyster River High School early today, offering one of the highest voter turnouts in recent memory.
“We’ve been slammed all this morning,” said polling official Tom Poirier. “It’s been a busy turnout, and this is the thinnest I’ve seen the line today.”
Poirier anticipated a strong turnout, especially among young, first time voters. But what he did not expect was to be just 2000 ballots short of a full voter registration. “We may need to Xerox more copies and count the difference the old fashion way- by hand,” he said.
And yet the line continued to wrap around the side of the Oyster River School all morning. “I’m so fired up to vote,” said Kerry Murchie, 18, a resident of Durham. “It’s my first election and I’m excited for the chance to vote. I’ve been here since 7 a.m.”
Veterans of the polls agree, sharing in the excitement of first time voters. “This country’s in a bad spot,” said Chris Lowell, 43 of Durham. “I’m voting so that my voice can be heard.”
Attendees, who meandered slowly into the five alphabetized tables in the gymnasium, showed a similar fervor for Democratic Sen. Barrack Obama. Becca Romanoski, 21 of the College Democrats was especially excited. “Face it,” she said with shoulders shrugged, “Obama is the reason for the popular young turnout.”
Poirier, 51, who himself was a once registered republican, is following the ‘young’ trend for change. He is voting for the first time as a democrat. “Yes, I’m most definitely voting for Obama, no question,” he said, “This country needs a change.”
But young support for Republican Sen. John McCain was not lost on eager voters, despite the usual harangue of Obama advertisers. Justin Polanik, 20, of the UNH ROTC program voted Republican. “McCain is the best thing for the U.S. military and I’m training for the army,” he said. “All my friends in the program are voting McCain too.”
Young voters not yet registered also had the opportunity to register at the polls. The entire process, which required domicile students to fill out Addavit forms, took an estimated 10 minutes to complete. UNH owned shuttle vans also transported eager students, often snapping photos of one another, between the campus and Oyster River.
“We’ve been slammed all this morning,” said polling official Tom Poirier. “It’s been a busy turnout, and this is the thinnest I’ve seen the line today.”
Poirier anticipated a strong turnout, especially among young, first time voters. But what he did not expect was to be just 2000 ballots short of a full voter registration. “We may need to Xerox more copies and count the difference the old fashion way- by hand,” he said.
And yet the line continued to wrap around the side of the Oyster River School all morning. “I’m so fired up to vote,” said Kerry Murchie, 18, a resident of Durham. “It’s my first election and I’m excited for the chance to vote. I’ve been here since 7 a.m.”
Veterans of the polls agree, sharing in the excitement of first time voters. “This country’s in a bad spot,” said Chris Lowell, 43 of Durham. “I’m voting so that my voice can be heard.”
Attendees, who meandered slowly into the five alphabetized tables in the gymnasium, showed a similar fervor for Democratic Sen. Barrack Obama. Becca Romanoski, 21 of the College Democrats was especially excited. “Face it,” she said with shoulders shrugged, “Obama is the reason for the popular young turnout.”
Poirier, 51, who himself was a once registered republican, is following the ‘young’ trend for change. He is voting for the first time as a democrat. “Yes, I’m most definitely voting for Obama, no question,” he said, “This country needs a change.”
But young support for Republican Sen. John McCain was not lost on eager voters, despite the usual harangue of Obama advertisers. Justin Polanik, 20, of the UNH ROTC program voted Republican. “McCain is the best thing for the U.S. military and I’m training for the army,” he said. “All my friends in the program are voting McCain too.”
Young voters not yet registered also had the opportunity to register at the polls. The entire process, which required domicile students to fill out Addavit forms, took an estimated 10 minutes to complete. UNH owned shuttle vans also transported eager students, often snapping photos of one another, between the campus and Oyster River.
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