Voter Turnout Steady as Fairfax Hits the Polls

Update (7 p.m. Nov.6, 2012): Election officials at Precinct One in Fairfax City report that they have received 1,450 ballots of 2,458 active registered voters as of 6 p.m.

As of 5 p.m., Precinct Two had received 1,415 ballots of 2,200 active registered voters.

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Fairfax City residents went to the polls at a steady pace Tuesday morning, braving early morning chills and long lines at polling stations.

As of 10:50 a.m., 692 of 2,492 active registered voters had cast their ballots in Precinct One at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, said Bob Johnson, deputy chief election officer at the location. About 250 absentee ballots had also been received, he said.

Johnson said the turnout Tuesday morning had been high, with an early morning line that snaked around the church’s grounds. The line around 11 a.m. was especially long for that time of day, he said.

Johnson has been an election officer before, and though he was at a new location, he said turnout this year has been comparable to previous presidential elections he’s seen.

Turnout was similar in Precinct Two at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center.

As of 10 a.m., 608 of 2,200 active registered voters had cast ballots, said election officer Bob Pritz. His precinct had also received 300 absentee ballots, he said.

The line at Daniels Run School in Precinct Three extended out the door and well into the parking lot.

Ronald Cross, an election officer in Precinct Three, was impressed with the number of voters he was seeing.

“I’m amazed at the turnout,” he said around 10:10 a.m. Tuesday. “They’re here to vote and they’re acting like neighbors and citizens, and it’s just nice to see.”

This is Cross’ first time participating as an officer in a presidential election.

“I live here [in Fairfax] because I like the community and this is just another manifestation of that,” he said. “It’s a privilege to live and work here.”

One voter, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had voted for Gov. Mitt Romney.

“I’m worried about the economy,” she said. “I don’t think we can take four more years of this.”

Another resident, Ben, said he supported the Affordable Healthcare Act, so he voted for Obama.

Stay with Fairfax City Patch throughout the day as we bring you updates from the polls.