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Record numbers of students waited in line to vote on Tuesday, many waiting over an hour to register in what would be the first presidential election in which they would take part.
The number of students casting ballots jumped more than 140 percent from the 2002 gubernatorial election but remained almost identical to the 2000 presidential election. Nearly 1,700 ballots were cast by students on campus during Tuesday’s election, compared to the 700 cast in 2002, according to Orono town officials. However, the percentage of registered voters who voted on campus did jump from 45 percent in 2000 to 71 percent this year.
Lines for same-day registration and voting turned corners, snaked past the Wade center, went up stairs and into the halls of Memorial Union.
Volunteers handed out cookies and other treats provided by the Deans of Students’ office to voters, encouraging them to stay in line to vote or register.
Stephanie Cotsirilos, a volunteer at the polls, said that while the large numbers were exciting, she worried the long waits would deter potential voters.
“It’s going well, but the turnout is overwhelming. I just hope that people will be patient and wait it out,” Cotsirilos said.
Volunteer Jim Martin, who was working as part of the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, said while the wait was frustrating for students, he found the enormous voter turnout very encouraging.
“You’re going to hear a little grumbling. Some students have been waiting for two hours,” Martin said. “I think that it shows a lot of dedication, and that students really want their vote to be counted,” he said.
Martin said that volunteers are crucial to help make sure the election process goes smoothly.
“I’m making sure we’re protecting the students’ right to vote, and they know what they can and can’t do,” Martin said.
One problem Martin and other volunteers had to help students with is figuring out where to vote. Martin said that the confusion was greater earlier in the day when several off-campus residents showed up at the on-campus voting location. He said volunteers constantly scanned the long line in search of misplaced voters.
Like many of the other volunteers who gave their day to work the election, Martin helped out at the polls from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. He said the anticipation of the election’s results helped to make the day fly by.
“I’m excited, relieved and looking forward to tomorrow,” Martin said. “Now we’ll all just have to sit up and wait for tonight.”
Also taking advantage of the huge turnout was Linda Murphy, a volunteer asking students to sign a petition to place a referendum on the next state ballot.
“This question is to keep taxes level to what your income would be, and to prevent the shifting of the tax burden,” Murphy said.
One of the first things students saw when leaving the polls was Murphy and her petition. According to Murphy, this was key to her success in getting students to sign it.
“I’ve got about one out of every five people,” she said.
Some students were also approached by exit-pollers after casting their ballots. These data gatherers were responsible for the election updates broadcast throughout the day.
These exit-poll volunteers approached voters at random and asked students questions concerning how they, along with information such as their age, political affiliation, gender and occupation.
These results, typically taken from every third or fifth voter, were then called in at specific times during the day. Information gathered about the congressional and presidential elections was gathered for Edison-Mitofsky pollsters, who compile information for the networks CNN, FOX News and the Associated Press.
Among these volunteers were students from UMaine’s American public opinion class.
News Editor Rick Redmond contributed to this report.
Election results
President of the United States of America
George W. Bush 51%
John F. Kerry 48%
99 percent of precincts reporting
Source: cnn.com
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE,
1ST DISTRICT
Tom Allen 60%
Charles Summers 40%
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE,
2nd district
Mike Michaud 58%
Brian Hamel 40%
Carl Cooley 3%
county commissioner, penobscot county,
district 2
Thomas Davis 62%
Carl Pease 40%
house district 19 orono
Emily Cain 62%
Bill Reed 26%
Mark Horton 12%
house district 14
old town, indian island
Dick Blanchard 66%
Matt Gagnon 34%
senate district 30 orono, old town,
lincoln
Elizabeth Schneider 58%
A. Peavey-Haskell 42%
Referendum Questions:
Tax Reform – No 63%
Tax Reform – Yes 37%
Bear Baiting – No 53%
Bear Baiting – Yes 47%
