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COLUMBUS, OHIO 11:00AM --
Free Press reporters returned on Tuesday to the site of long lines and
hours-long voting delays in the 2004 election and found low voter turnout,
short waits and no major voting problems as Ohio's 2008 primary voting began
on March 4th.
There were no reports of voter challenges of likely Barack Obama voters by
apparent Hillary Clinton supporters. Ohio's primary is open, meaning people
can cross party lines to pick a presidential nominee in any party.
At a dozen African-American majority precincts on the east side of Columbus,
no more than 12 percent of the voters already cast ballots by Election Day,
according to surveys by reporters. Typically, the lines were short, with
the longest taking 15 minutes to vote. Compared to 2004 and 2006, there
appeared to be twice as many voting machines and voters also were able to
vote on a paper ballot if requested.
The apparently slow start of inner-city voting also was reported in
Cleveland, where election protection staffers for People for the American
Way reported a similar early turnout. The weather was rough across Ohio,
with sleet in the morning in the north and rain elsewhere.
The slow start of voting is a striking contrast to the turnout in the 10
days of early voting in Ohio. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner predicted
Ohio would set a turnout record on Tuesday.
Poll workers said they expected traffic to pick up after lunch and after the
work, in the early evening.
