Board of Elections anticipating large turnout

In five weeks — if the predictions hold true — the most ballots in the history of American elections will be cast and counted.

The Iredell County Board of Elections is bracing itself for the voting onslaught that unquestionably will exceed anything the county has seen.

In five weeks — if the predictions hold true — the most ballots in the history of American elections will be cast and counted.

The Iredell County Board of Elections is bracing itself for the voting onslaught that unquestionably will exceed anything the county has seen.

According to Becky Galliher, the board’s director, Iredell now boasts more than 98,000 registered voters, with that total rising daily. That figure represents more than 85 percent of the adults living in the county.

“It’s going to be huge,“ Galliher said.

On Tuesday afternoon, she held a class aimed at preparing some of the more than 200 poll workers who will surely earn their pay Nov. 4.

“What makes this election different than the May primary?“ Galliher asked her class of precinct judges Tuesday.

“Party,“ someone called out.

“Yes,“ Galliher said. “We don’t ask which party the voters are. Another thing is age.“

She noted that during the primary election, voters could be 17 as long as they were due to have a birthday before the November election. But now everyone in the voter registry is 18.

But age is not the number on the minds of poll workers. Turnout is.

To that end, Galliher reminded the workers several times that if things get out of hand on election day to call her.

“Or, if you have to, call 911,“ she said. “And we’ll get someone out there they’ll listen to.“

Galliher also reminded the group that the election would be closely scrutinized, so the workers should be careful nothing is done without witnesses.

“I’m going to ask that you have a person from each party watching before you do anything with the ballots,“ she said. “They are going to be watching this election very closely.“

Galliher touched on what appeared to be a truism of the electorate.

She stressed that voters who cast a straight-party ticket ballot must still vote for their choice for president separately.

“It’s in the instructions they’re going to get,“ Galliher said and paused for effect. “Go ahead and laugh. We all know that people don’t read the instructions.“

A question arose about the prospect of challenging a person’s address and Galliher pointed out the burden of proof is on the challenger, not on the voter.

“The voter does not have to prove anything,“ Galliher said. She then found some wood to knock on and told the workers that she had not had a challenge during her tenure and did not want to break that streak.

Perhaps the most important thing Galliher wanted her charges to remember was that voting is a hallmark of the nation’s democracy and as such it is sacrosanct in the allowances made to preserve it.
“Never tell anyone that they cannot vote,“ Galliher said.

Workers could point voters to the right precinct or county, as the case may be. Or, if necessary, allow them to vote with a provisional ballot.

Bob Foster will be working his third election. He said the primary season that took place this year was one for the books and that the general election will be even more awe-inspiring.

“It’s been a great experience for all Americans,“ he said. “It’s been one that I’ve never experienced and I think this coming election will be one that America will never see again.“

Carolyn Sherrill is the chief judge at the CD Precinct at Concord Presbyterian Church on Taylorsville Highway.

She said this will be the 14th or 15th election she has worked and that its importance has increased inversely to the nation’s financial situation.

“This is going to be a strong election,“ she said. “With people losing their jobs and the economy and all the other things going on, people want to be heard.“

With the crowds on election day expected to be unprecedented, Galliher and several other workers encouraged people to take advantage of the early “One-Stop” voting, which begins Oct. 16 at Board of Election headquarters in Statesville.

The last day to register for the Nov. 4 election is Oct. 10.

By Jim McNally

Posted on 09/30/08 at 08:21 AM
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