Election Day - Part 1: Lengthening lines, no irregularities

With election officials forecasting long lines, Jerry Maynard says 'This is the day the world changes' and the Mayor expects a strong day for Dems

Email | Print By NashvillePost.com Staff

Election morning is here and we are off to the races. The crack staff of City Paper and NashvillePost.com reporters have fanned out across the city to bring you front-line election-day news. Be sure to check in frequently for the latest happenings.

From Nate Rau – 10:30 a.m.: Belmont's Curb Event Center, which has already played a critical role in the election as host to the second presidential debate, also was a bustling voting precinct this morning with lines 100 feet deep. Precinct officer Toby Abrams predicted long lines during the lunch hour and at the end of the work day. At the moment, the lines are short and wait times negligible.


From Ken Whitehouse – 10:15 a.m.: At the Cathedral of Praise on Clarksville Pike, the voter count as of 9:30 a.m. was 134. We ran into Councilman-at-Large Jerry Maynard, whose father is pastor of the church.

Maynard said church members are setting up a tent and tables to serve food to voters from lunch until the polls close. Officials are expecting a crunch this afternoon.

Speaking about the election itself, the African-American Maynard said, "This is the day the world changes. I believe I will be able to look my son in the eye without hesitation and say with a straight face, 'You can do anything and be anything that you want in this country.'"

On the opposite end of town, we just left Smith Springs Church of Christ near Percy Priest Lake. As of 9 a.m., 258 people had voted there. An election official said there was a steady stream of voters even though an estimated 40 percent of the district’s eligibles voted early.
Both polling places reported no irregularities.
 

From Amy Griffith Graydon – 10 a.m.: Voters at North Nashville's Hadley Park were confident as election day began that they would would celebrating a victory by Barack Obama by the end of the day.

"Things are looking good," said James Thomas, a reverend at Jefferson Street Baptist Church. "To see the young black and white Americans out here making America a better place – I'm just amazed."

Thomas said he would not have dreamed he would see this day back in 1964. Thomas is holding a rally for Obama at his church at 6 p.m.

About 120 people have voted this morning at Hadley Park, said poll worker Carolyn Harris. There has been a minimal line since the poll opened this morning. The Hadley Park voting center is expected to become more active later this afternoon.

From Nate Rau – 9:50 a.m.: At the Church of Christ in Precinct 4, lines formed early at around 6 a.m. and were backed up 30 deep an hour later.

The precinct officer, Bill Martin, reports a flawless process thus far:  "Everything been going very smoothly. We've had no irregularities, the machines are working perfectly."

At the Edmondson Pike Library, where voters are sent with irregularities and change of address, things have been going smoothly as well. Precinct officials also report no problems.

From Ken Whitehouse – 9:35 a.m.: Before heading out to the various polling places throughout our fair city, NashvillePost.com stopped by the offices of Farmer & Luna, the law firm of former McWherter cabinet offiical J.W. Luna and prominent attorney Bill Farmer, where a "who's who" of Nashville politics assembled for coffee and commiseration regarding this historic election day.

Among those at what is fast becoming a staple of election-day politics were Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling, former Deputy Governor Dave Cooley, Tennessee Obama Political Director Jerry Martin, Emmett Edwards, Public Works director Billy Lynch, Tennessee Democratic Party Treasurer Chip Forrester, former Councilman Jim Schulman, Congressman Jim Cooper and U.S Senate candidate Bob Tuke.

NashvillePost.com caught up with Nashville's Mayor, who shared his thoughts over coffee with Nashville's political elite.

"I am expecting a huge turnout. Obama will do well in the county. My sense is that it will be a strong Democratic showing here, " Dean said. "More than anything else, I encourage people to vote and be patient. This is a great election, like nothing I've ever seen."