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'Record number' vote in Texas
05/03/2008 14:17 - (SA)
Dallas, Texas - Texans turned out in overwhelming numbers for Tuesday's primary, resulting in long lines at polling places, shortages of paper ballots in some precincts and overflow crowds at post-election caucuses.
Some precincts in Houston remained open late to accommodate long lines of waiting voters. Similar scenes were reported elsewhere in the state.
"At this point in time, everybody's looking for something different," said Al Miller, a 20-year-old financial services worker who voted in Hurst. "I expected a lot of turnout because everybody's trying to make a difference."
Turnout was expected to set a new Texas record. Based on early voting numbers, Secretary of State Phil Wilson projected 26% of the state's 12.7 million registered voters in Texas cast ballots.
State Democratic Party officials also were expecting a dramatic increase because of the intense race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
"This has the air of a once-in-a-lifetime event," said Democratic precinct chair Bob Ackerman in Dallas. "All of a sudden, we matter after having been forgotten so long as Democrats in George Bush's home state."
The crush of voters caused a run on ballots in some counties where parties are responsible for ordering ballots.
Caucuses also turned chaotic after large crowds showed up to choose delegates.
More than 2 000 people trying to attend the Democratic caucus in the North Texas town of Little Elm waited in the parking lot for about two hours before being allowed into the building.
"It definitely caused a lot of frustration," said Dan Perez, a 30-year-old homebuilder.
- AP
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