Election Day draws to a close

After about 15 hours on the trail, I'm calling it a night. Please let The Star know what you thought of this form of coverage and don't forgot to pick up your signs.

Video

Click here to watch video from the Cleveland County Volunteer Fire Department in Shelby as the results came in.

Shaffer: Voters saw 'through the lies'

"I'm very humble and happy. I have to thank a lot of people including my staff and family. It appeared that the citizens of Cleveland County had the sense to look through the lies of the advertisements. I think the key was that I had the support of the law enforcement community that has worked with me for the last 19 years."

Total voter turnout

A total of 46.4 percent of local registered voters turned out for this election, according to the Cleveland County Board of Elections. That includes absentee voters.

Westmoreland concedes

N.C. Senate Candidate Wes Westmoreland conceded to incumbent Walter Dalton.
"We're not where we need to be to be in a position to win at this point. The Senator is obviously a formidable opponent as we knew he would be when we came into it. He has the message the people are looking for."

McWhirter throws in the towel

District Attorney Candidate Colin McWhirter has conceded.
"Obviously it wasn't a good year for Republicans. We had the best campaign ticket in years. National politics brought out a lot of Democratic voters. "
He has left the fire department. I hear that Shaffer is on his way here.

Boggs and Holbrook

Eddie Holbrook and Jo Boggs have taken a pretty significant lead on Hastings and Chambless in the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners race. So far, Boggs and Holbrook are the only commissioner candidates in the fire department results area. They often clap when their returns are posted and get congratulatory pats on the back from supporters.

Cheers from McGraw Johnson

Mitzi McGraw Johnson supporters erupted in cheers. So far she's taken all eight precincts that have reported so far by considerable amounts. The same is true with Sheriff's incumbent Raymond Hamrick.

Early voting results

Early voting results

Claudia Glenn 1589
Mitzi McGraw Johnson 2904

Don Allen 1800
Raymond Hamrick 2706

Boggs 2360
Holbrook 2426
Hastings 1847
Chambless 1896

closing time

It's 7:30 and polls in Cleveland County have officially closed. About 100 people are at the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department waiting for results.

Turnout at the South Post Road precinct

According to poll workers at the at the Cleveland County Office Building Auditorium on South Post Road, 600 residents in the precint voted early.
At the polling place Tuesday, 633 voters had voted as of 6:30 p.m.
- Graham Cawthon

Shelby 3 update

Star reporter Emily Killian just called me. She said 255 people voted at Shelby No. 3 as of 6 p.m. This number doesn't reflect early voting turnout. There are 1,770 registered voters in Shelby No. 3.

Setting up the fire house

Cleveland Volunteer firefighters spent the early evening setting up bleachers and the whiteboard many residents will look to for election results.

Voting machines

The Star's special projects manager, Jackie Bridges, had this to say about her voting experience today:
"Voters could be sure that their votes counted this election day. No more worrying about hanging chads or stray marks.
"The county's new electronic machines reject ballots that are marked incorrectly.
"This morning as I was voting at Trinity Church (The Mooresboro-Young precinct), a woman submitted her ballot. The election official stood by the machine to make sure hers and every ballot was read properly.
"The machine kicked out the woman's ballot and gave a reason.
"'You're ballot was marked incorrectly,' the election official said.
"They gave the woman back her ballot, and she corrected her marks. I think her marks were too light for the machine to read.
"The second time they inserted the ballot, it went through and was counted letting the official know that it was read properly.
"When I put my ballot in the machine, the election official watched to see it counted. 'Yes, you're number 74,' she said.
"I walked away, thankful for the new technology that will hopefully avoid the errors of the past."

Clary v. Long update

I just got off the phone with Debbie Clary. She started off in Waco this morning and spent most of the day in Gaston County.

She said she's pleased with the turnout.

"Polls have been pretty steady, not a lot of traffic, but a steady stream," she said.

She said she plans to watch the results in Gaston County and make her way over to Cleveland County around 9:30 p.m.

I tried to reach Democrat Jim Long by phone and have not been able to so far. I'll keep you posted.

N.C. Senate update

I just got off the phone with Republican Wes Westmoreland. He said he's been in Rutherford County most of the day and is in Ellenboro now.

"I feel good right now," he said. "I think I can swing more here than in Cleveland."

He used to live in Ellenboro.

Senator Walter Dalton was last spotted campaigning in Boiling Springs. Besides his ties as an incumbent, Dalton is from Rutherford County and has lived in Cleveland County.

Westmoreland said he plans to grab some food at 5 East then heading to the fire house.

Voting at Cleveland Volunteer

More than 700 of the 2,974 registered voters at the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department have voted as of 5:30 p.m. This number doesn't include early voting turnout.

Campaigning at Cleveland Volunteer

Holly Arakelian-Watts, Harriette Greene and Katie Sawyer show support for the Democrats.

Rick, McRay and Juli Moore show support N.C. House Rep. Tim Moore outside Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department.

Braving the cold at Shanghai

As of 4:45 p.m., 616 out of the roughly 2,300 registered voters in the Shanghai precinct voted.

Rhett Owensby came out specifically for the U.S. House race.

"I love Patrick McHenry," he said. "He's been a good congressman."

He said illegal immigration played a big role in his decision today.

There are no candidates at the Shanghai Fire Department currently, but there are representatives from both Betsy Fonvielle and Tim Moore's camp.

Jordan Van Dyke passed out suckers with Tim Moore's name on them in an attempt to persuade voters.

He said turnout is good.

"I think it's going to be over 40 percent," said Van Dyke.

Fonvielle's representative, Dustin Bridges, jokingly suggested he should hand out his own candy.
"Tim Moore is handing out suckers so I suggested going to Wal-Mart and getting some Smarties so we can tell voters you can either be a sucker or smartie," he said.

Both Van Dyke and Bridges said they've been joking around in good spirit most of the afternoon.
Sharon Walker was out campaigning for Don Allen. She said she got to the fire department around 12:30 p.m. and so far it's going well.

"The rain has held off until now," she said.

Baby pictures aren't just for presidents

Democrats Betsy Fonvielle and Jo Boggs stand with Stephanie Trodgon and her son Davis at First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs.

Boiling Springs vote count tops 800

Rick Moore campaigns with his son, N.C. House of Representative Tim Moore, outside of First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs.

Gary Boggs, husband of County Commissioner candidate Jo Boggs, stands with Assistant District Attorney Sallie Kirby-Turner to show support for their candidates at the First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs.

More than 800 people voted at the First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs so far today.

Joe Kendrick was one of them.

"I'm doing my civic duty," said Kendrick.

He looked for candidates that he thinks have the ability to do the job, are needed and can run the government a little bit better.

Kendrick said he would encourage everyone to vote.

"A lot of people in the world don't have this right," said Kendrick. "It would be wrong not to vote."

Stephanie Trogdon said she was interested in the local races but votes every election.

"It's the American thing to do," she said.

She said she was looking for candidates that have good character and values.

Cleveland County Board of Commissioners candidate Jo Boggs made her way to Boiling Springs in the afternoon.

She said the weather isn't that great but she's still having fun.

"It's been a cold, wet day but it's always exciting when Election Day arrives," said Mrs. Boggs.

She said she spent the morning at the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, then went to choir rehearsal and then to Boiling Springs.

N.C. Senator Walter Dalton also arrived in Boiling Springs in the afternoon. He said he spent the morning in Rutherfordton and then went to Kings Mountain, Polkville and Fallston.

He said he wanted to show support to his volunteers.

"I certainly want to stop and thank them," said Dalton.

Now I'm off to Shanghai.

Voters, candidates flock to Boiling Springs

Bobby Hall, a member of the Gardner-Webb University Young Republicans, sets up his campaign signs on his tricycle outside First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs.

My stop at First Baptist Church in Boiling Springs was a busy one. As of 1:30 p.m., 659 people voted.

With lots of voters to try and persuade, candidates are eager to chat about their platforms.

Both candidates for N.C. House District 111, Democrat Betsy Fonvielle and incumbent Republican Tim Moore, are outside the polling place campaigning.

Mrs. Fonvielle said she's pleased with the turnout so far.

"We had a pretty good turnout," she said. "We're trying to keep people at the polls."

She said she plans to stay in Boiling Springs as long as her opponent does.

Moore said he's enjoying meeting the people.

"It's been cold and wet but it's fun just talking to the people," said Moore.

Eddie Holbrook, candidate for county commissioner, said things are going well.

"It's going fine," he said. "Our volunteers have turned out and are doing a good job. Turnout hasn't been as bad as you would think."

Democrat District Attorney candidate Rick Shaffer said he's encouraged by the turnout.

"Things are fairly well," said Shaffer. "There's a lot of people but you just don't know how they voted."

Boiling Springs resident Shannon Ledbetter said some of the main issues he weighed in his mind when he was voting were the economy and gay marriage.

"Gay marriage is a big one," he said. "Our constitution was founded on the Bible and the country seems to be getting away from it. We need some leaders that are going to being some Christian values."

Look for more voter reaction from Boiling Springs shortly.

Fallston attracts voters

As of 11:15 a.m., 199 people voted at the Fallston Volunteer Fire Department.

One of those voters is Mary Frye. She said she made the trip to vote in the rain because this year's election is important.

"I'm concerned with who's elected," said Ms. Frye.

She said the U.S. House of Representatives race is the most important. She said family, pro-life and illegal immigration issues were key factors in her decision on who she voted for.

While I was there, Sheriff candidate Don Allen stopped by to bring the poll workers some food and drinks.

"Other than it being cold, things are going good," he said.

There were only a handful of poll workers standing in the rain at the fire department.

Barry Stumper said he will be standing outside for a few hours in his yellow Mitzi McGraw Johnson T-shirt. He said it's a small crowd out there.

"There's three of us," he said. "We're diehard."

Shelby Park problem

I just got off the phone with a Board Of Elections worker. She told me that there was a jam in the machine and as far as she knows, everything is working properly. I'll keep you posted on any further information I get.

Campaign headquarters

I just stopped by the Democratic and Republican headquarters in uptown Shelby.

Only a few people were at each office.

Political Smackdown commentator Dean Westmoreland was at the Democrat's office to share his thoughts on the election so far. He said he talked to a couple of people out at the polls and heard things were going well.

"It was really brisk at Bethware this morning," he said.

He said he's not sure what impact the rain will have on the races.

"It rains on both Democrats and Republicans," said Westmoreland.

At the Republican headquarters, Jerry Scruggs was there to welcome any visitors.

He said he spent the morning making last-minute phone calls.

"It looks like were having a good turnout despite the inclement weather," said Scruggs.

Few problems

At about 9 a.m., Cleveland County Board of Elections Director Debra Blanton reported that all polling places are open and everything is working properly. She said there were a few problems, one being that the ballots were getting backed up at one of the polling places. It turns out that the ballot tub just needed to be opened. The problem has been fixed and has no effect on the votes, she said.

I also heard there may have been some power outages in the Shelby area. She said she hasn't heard of any but said the machines run on battery backups that can last up to five years.

I voted

Hannah Johnson showing support for her mom

Trey Faile and Hannah Johnson

My next stop along the campaign trail was the Shelby 5 precinct where I voted. I was voter number 44 at around 7:45 a.m.

There were no candidates out but there were plenty of family members and supporters out for them.

Tim Moore's dad, Rick, was out showing support for his son, who is battling Democrat Betsy Fonvielle for the N.C. House District 111 race.

"I think it's going good," said Moore. "He's got his entire family out working for him."

Mitzi McGraw Johnson's daughter, Hannah, took an independent study day off from Crest High School where she's a junior.

She said she's out campaigning for her mom and learning a lesson at the same time.

"I'm learning the importance of getting out the vote and how it matters."

Trey Faile was also out supporting a mixture of candidates from both sides of the partisan aisle.

"I want to see positive people in the right positions," said Faile.

Short lines in Waco

Only four people were in line when the polls opened at the Waco Community Building on Main Street.

Waco residents Wendy Benton and Curtis Carpenter were the first two in line.

Ms. Benton said she's always one of the first to cast their vote each Election Day in Waco.

"I wanted to make sure my vote counts," said Ms. Benton. "Voting is one thing we can do for our country."

Carpenter said he just got off work and wanted to vote before he went home to sleep. He said he was most interested in the U.S. House race between incumbent Republican Patrick McHenry and Democrat Richard Carsner.

He said he was surprised that no one was handing out campaign flyers. He said it was nice not to have them in his face.

"This is the first time," he said. "It's more aggravating than anything. They think they will change your mind."

By 6:45 a.m. a trickling stream of voters arrived to fill out their ballots.

Ms. Benton said the rain is already having an impact. She said usually there is a longer line. She said hopefully voters won't let the rain get to them.

"A little rain hasn't hurt anybody," said Ms. Benton.

Early morning

It's 5:45 a.m. and one prediction for Election Day has already came true: it's raining. Well, it's time to head out to the first polling place of the day to watch some of the first voters of the 2006 general election.



Pictures from my cell 6:25 a.m.







6:34 a.m.

Pete DeLea, roving political reporter

The Star’s technology can bring you election coverage on the spot as it happens.
What he’ll do: Give you regular updates throughout the day on The Star’s Web site. Starting at 6:30 a.m., Pete will visit polling sites, parties’ headquarters and other election hot spots, reporting his take on what’s happening, the views and experiences of people at the polls, maybe you!
How? Using a camera phone and a laptop with wireless Internet
What to do: If you see Pete coming, don’t go running! Share your opinions instantly with other Star readers.
How is Pete’s coverage different? This will be news as it happens — your neighbors, friends and coworkers talking about the candidates, the issues and what led to their voting decisions. "This is pro-active coverage," Pete said, "not just standing around waiting for the results to come in."
How often should you check the blog? At least once an hour.
Will Pete answer questions? Yes. You can respond to each blog and Pete will answer what questions he can.
Why you should read this blog often on Election Day: You can be the first to know how your candidates are doing with live reports from the field.