Voters on and around campus braved a steady rain and long lines to cast their ballots Tuesday. But poll workers and volunteers said most people remained upbeat and didn't seem to mind the weather or the occasional delays. \n \nPOLL WORKERS KEEP THINGS MOVING\nLindsay Montgomery said the voting process was not flawless at Assembly Hall where she was working. Some first-time voters were confused about the process and some older voters didn't like the changes. One voting machine broke, causing a 45-minute wait.\n"We lost votes that way because people were on a time schedule and they had to leave," Montgomery said. \nRichard McLaughlin, a deputy sheriff working as an inspector at the Eigenmann polling site, said the computers went down temporarily during the morning hours, making it hard for him to get information for voters experiencing problems. \n"I was frustrated. Now they have a backup, and everything is running well," he said around noon.\nA number of students discovered they had arrived at the wrong polling place. \n"People don't find out where they're supposed to go ahead of time, and it's their responsibility," said Lou Cooper, a poll worker at the University School polling site. Cooper, 82, said about two to three percent of those showing up to vote at the site were at the wrong spot.\nDespite these difficulties, poll workers said the voters' mood was generally positive. \n"Voters are upbeat, yet on guard," said Jacob Franklin, an election inspector working at the Unitarian Universalist Church. "There have been a few punchy political comments." \nFranklin said he was pleased with the day's turnout. "During the primaries, 10 people in my precinct voted. So far today, around 120 people have voted," he said around noon.
YOUNG VOLUNTEERS GET OUT THE VOTE\nPartisan volunteers did their part to get out the vote Tuesday, even if many of them weren't old enough to cast their own.\nTaking time off from school, they answered questions and drove voters to the city's polling places. \nJordan Figg, 14, a student from Lighthouse Christian Academy, took the day off to hand out information about Monroe County Democratic candidates at Assembly Hall. Figg said most voters asked about the issues the Democratic candidates were supporting. But he said his own involvement wasn't necessarily partisan.\n"No matter what party you are for, try to get out and encourage people to vote," Figg said. \nHe said it was his first time campaigning on Election Day, but that it wouldn't be his last. \nThat sentiment was shared by Chloie Favinger, a senior at Bloomington High School South. Favinger, 17, was volunteering for the Democratic Party for the first time this year. \n"I just missed being able to vote by three months," she said. So instead of voting, she's driving people to the polls. She said many of her classmates were also volunteering, either with her at the Democratic headquarters or through the Monroe County Republicans. \n"You get off school for volunteering," Favinger explained. She went to her first two classes, then headed for the polls. "They're really nice like that."\nOfficials at private Bloomington schools also allowed students to participate in Election Day activities. Victoria Thevenow, director of the Bloomington Montessori School, said eight families had told her their children would miss school to accompany their parents to the polls. \n"Parents are modeling how it is their responsibility to vote and to carry on the tradition of voting," Thevenow said. \nBut not everyone welcomed student campaigners. Tina Thuley-Lampkey, a social worker who brought teenage Republican volunteers to hand out candy at Bloomington polls, said some voters harassed the students for expressing their political views. \nThuley-Lampkey, who started volunteering at age 13, said those voters were overlooking the big picture -- that campaigning is essential to democracy. \n"We should be grateful that we get to be involved in the political process," she said.
FIRST-TIME VOTERS CATCH THE ELECTION SPIRIT\nMany first-time voters said they were excited as they trudged through driving rain and slow-moving lines to cast their ballots.\n"I've been looking forward to this for a long time," said Cara Overholser, a junior from Quincy, Ill.\nConcerns about the war in Iraq, terrorism and the economy have made this one of the closest presidential races in recent history.\n"This time, I feel that my vote really makes the difference," said senior Khoi Le, a medical science and biochemistry major. "If it's this close ... it's definitely worth it for me to vote."\nStill, she acknowledged that she hasn't done a lot of research about the candidates. \n"I'm kind of voting for the person I disliked the least," she said.\nSophomore Phil McLaughlin, a communications major, said casting a vote gives him power. \n"While the election process was on TV, I tried to become as educated as I could," he said. "It was my first time voting, so I really wanted to know what's going on with the candidates."\nSophomore Ashley Grant, a philosophy major, focused on the war in Iraq and environmental and educational issues. \n"I'm voting because this is a very crucial election," Grant said. "There are so many issues at stake."\nJunior Sandra Macklin just doesn't want to see President Bush back in office. \n"I don't think he is for us," said the business management major. "Kerry is more for the people."\nBut sophomore Paul Norman, a Bush supporter, thinks Bush stands up for his political and religious beliefs.\n"I agree with him on the issues of foreign policy and on the issues of war. I'm with Bush 100 percent, honestly," said Norman, a psychology major.\nThough Norman said he believes his views aren't popular among IU students, he is following his own political beliefs.\n"I just felt that I needed to get out and vote for what I believe," he said.
SOME CHOSE TO NOT TAKE PART IN ELECTION PROCESS\nNot everyone embraced the election spirit, though. IU senior Megan Kavanagh said that for her, voting would simply take too much time. \n"I have to work and I have class, so I don't have the time," Kavanagh said. \nAt the same time, she said she hopes Kerry wins.\nNate McGraw, a junior from Lafayette, said he didn't send away for an absentee ballot in time. \n"I just spaced on it," said McGraw. "I didn't remember until a month ago, and I got wrapped up in classes."\nHe said if the election weren't on Tuesday, he would have driven home, even though the drive takes him about three hours. \n"Today, I have five classes," he said.\nSome students chose not to vote because they didn't like either candidate. \n"I was against Bush because of stem cell research, and Kerry just didn't seem credible," said sophomore Abby Clark.\nFreshman Joy Frayer shared her distaste for the candidates. \n"I don't want either of them to be, or continue to be, the president," she said.\nSophomore Lindsey Constantz said when a state is dominated by a single political party, her presidential vote doesn't matter. That's true in Indiana, which typically favors Republican presidential candidates, and in her home state of California, where electoral votes will likely go to Kerry.\nAnother problem, she said, is the media's role in elections. \n"It seems voters have to pick a person by looking at who looks better and who makes media work," she said.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE\nBut those who did choose to vote weren't deterred by the rain, the occasional glitch or the long lines.\n"I think people are thrilled to vote," said poll worker Lou Cooper. "Most of them are in a good mood even with the handicaps of the day, the weather and everything."
Journalism graduate students in J505 reported this story. They are: Chris Xiao, Leslie Benson, Maddie Stone, Caitlin Boyle, Elisabeth Solchik, Thuy Do, Katie Wall, Miranda Higdon, Jennifer Dawson, Benjamin Lampkin, \nColleen Barrett, Jason Ingram, \nFatima Morrisroe, Andrew Petersen, Lisa Golda, Steven Hofmann, Yong Saeung and Scott Weybright.
