It's Over in NC

In a totally expected move, the North Carolinian Electors through their 15 Votes to President Bush.

William Trotter (R-9th district elector) stated, “It’s a great historic occasion, one that’s very important to me, to get to vote for our President George W. Bush.”

While Trotter cast a vote for the Charlotte area, Judy Keener
(R-13th district elector) cast the first-ever vote for North Carolina’s new 13th Congressional district.

“We should be very thankful for our process and the freedom that
we have to do all this," Keener said.

In somewhat related news, the voting machine problem in Carteret County, which should end up causing a complete re-vote for the position of Secratary of Agriculture, has been discussed in terms of a complete overhaul of the way voting is performed in NC. The Commission is looking for a more uniform system.

Cross Posted at the Pirate’s Cove.

Carteret County Resolution

The NC State Board of Elections has made a decision regarding the Nov. 2nd election problems in Carteret County, where a voting machine did not record thousands of votes. Memory set incorectly. They have "voted 4-1 to allow allow participation in the special  election by early voters whose ballots were lost, along with those  who did not vote Nov. 2."

By a 3-2 margin, board members initially
voted down motions to allow a revote by the Carteret voters whose
ballots were lost and to hold a new agriculture commissioner election
in that county.

Board members then voted 3-2 in favor of calling
a new statewide election for agriculture commissioner. But because four
votes were required for passage of that measure, it also failed.

That left the board at an apparent impasse and members called a recess. They
later returned and cast the final vote in favor of the special election
in Carteret County.

This is good news. No full North Carolina re-vote. Will only happen in Carteret County, and, in my opinion, that is the way it should be. Furthermore:

The board also rejected a protest over
ballots cast outside voters’ precincts and unanimously certified
Democrat June Atkinson as the winner of the race for state
superintendent of public instruction. Atkinson led her race by 8,535
votes over Republican Bill Fletcher.

However, it is going to be a long, drawn out court battle on that one.

Cross posted, no spin, same story, at the Pirate’s Cove.

Elections Certified (mostly)

The State Board of Elections certified nearly all results from the Nov. 2 election on Tuesday, but withheld approval of the outcome of two statewide races that are the subject of protests.

In a five-minute teleconfernce, the board members signed off on the final results for scores of races, including President Bush’s victory over John Kerry and wins by Gov. Mike Easley and Richard Burr for U.S. Senate.

The board declined to make final the results in the races for agriculture commissioner and superintendent of public instruction. Also still pending are certified outcomes of two District Court races and one legislative race.

Here is the kicker:

Protest hearings on those and other contests have been set for Nov. 30. The elections board could call for a new election, either just in Carteret County or statewide, to resolve the disputed Council of State races. The board also could seek a re-vote by people in Carteret County whose ballots were lost.

A new election would not be held until late February at the earliest.

Considering that a new statewide revote would cost over $3 million, let’s go for a re-vote in only the disputed areas, particularly Carteret County. And, it looks like a re-vote will only include the positions that are disputed. It will not be a general election.

Cross posted (exactly the same, not spinning this, rather cut and dry) at me Dreadnaught.

Academic Freedom?

From the Boston Globe:

SALISBURY, N.C. — A community college instructor who was suspended for showing “Fahrenheit 9/11” in class the week before the presidential election is offering no apologies and says he was unfairly punished.

Davis March showed the Michael Moore documentary critical of President Bush to his film class. Administrators pulled the plug on the movie with about 20 minutes left when March tried to show it to English composition students.

“This story is now about academic freedom . . . the movie is ancient history,” said March, who served a four-day suspension and returned Nov. 2 to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, about 45 miles northeast of Charlotte.

School officials said March disobeyed orders by refusing to meet with administrators before showing the film, but March said no instruction to seek permission had been issued.

Was this even legal to show it? There is a disclaimer on the video that restricts “unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of copyrighted motion pictures, videotapes, or videodisks.”

Cross posted with spin at me Corsair.

Do Over!

It looks like there is a possibility that a faulty voting machine in Carteret County, NC (if you are looking at a map, it is a county just to the north of where Jacksonville, NC is) could cause a new state wide election:

Elections workers and reporters crammed themselves into a tiny storage room Tuesday and angled for their best views of a black metal box the size of a large briefcase.

And then they studied a three-word electronic message — “Voter log full” — that some in the room, deep down, had hoped wouldn’t appear.

The warning message indicated that a computer tallying votes in coastal Carteret County had reached its limit at 3,016 electronic ballots.

If only someone had seen the same message a few weeks ago, when the votes actually mattered.

Tuesday’s exercise was the latest in an investigation into an embarrassing, and possibly costly, voting problem. Because of problems with the county’s voting machine, North Carolina may have to hold another statewide election to pick an agriculture commissioner.

Should make those who are calling for recounts, and yelling “fraud!” on the leftist websites, such as the DU, mucho happy. But, and there is always a “but,” it seems like that most of the votes lost were Republican votes. Many have gotten a kick out of the company who made the faulty machine, UniLect Corp. Plus, it could cost $3+ million, and may include a full revote for all positions, including President, Senators, Gov, etc.

Cross posted with some spin over at me sloop, the Pirate’s Cove.

Counting Questionable Ballots

From WRAL:

Election officials began the tedious task of looking at questionable ballots from Tuesday’s election by hand on Thursday.

The ballot instructions showed voters how to complete the arrow on the ballot, but hundreds of people scribbled dots, drew double lines or put the line in the wrong place. The voting machines could not read those ballots.

Interesting question: if the instructions weren’t followed, should they be counted. I know my opinion, but posts are no spin.

North Carolina, Meet Florida

From WRAL.com:

A Florida-style nightmare has unfolded in North Carolina in the 10 days since Election Day, with thousands of votes missing and the outcome of two statewide races still up in the air.

The fiasco has not reached the proportions of what happened in 2000 in Florida — in part because the presidential race was not close here. But election observers say North Carolina has been the site of some of 2004’s worst problems. (empasis mine)

The biggest failure resulted from a computer glitch that wiped out more than 4,400 votes in one county, while other disputes have focused on how to count provisional ballots. In another county, 12,000 early and absentee votes were misplaced due to a procedural error, but later found.

Federal authorities said they plan to look into what happened in two counties that have had the most severe breakdowns.

Might want to check WRAL’s politics section, lots of interesting stuff on the recounts and who is effected. Nothing is being mentioned that would affect the National or Governor counts, though.

GOP Headquarters vandization Con't

From WRAL:

RALEIGH, N.C. — One of the people accused of vandalizing the GOP headquarters in Raleigh is out of jail.

Vanessa Zuloaga was released on a $50,000 bond from the Wake County Jail.

When some of the other Raleigh area news sites provide a bit more info, I will update this post. Any update will be in the evening.

Prozac, anyone?

Others have blogged about this happening in other parts of the country, now we have "support groups" and therapy for the "anybody but Bushers," now we have it in the Triangle.

In fact, group therapy may be on the way.

Irene Kennedy, a Raleigh clinical social worker, is trying to assemble a support group for pained voters who cannot seem to move beyond the loss of their candidate, John Kerry.

"If you’re starting fights with people in the supermarket, you have to stop and think, ‘What’s going on?’ " Kennedy said. It’s Election Day plus 10. If your side lost and you are still feeling angry, sad or bewildered, take heart: You have lots of company.

I have removed the spin from the post I wrote on my blog. This is a no spin zone at the Command Center Election 2004. Ok, just a little spin. Even the N&O knew what this election was about:

Radios are tuned to music, not talk. Newspapers with front-page pictures of the victor get flipped over quickly to hide what those in the anybody-but-Bush crowd refer to as “that smug mug.”

Cross posted at the Pirate’s Cove, where I spin like a top.

Posted by Porter G at 07:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

More on the Raleigh GOP Attack

Reader Mike commented that he had pictures of the vandalism at the headquarters of the Raleigh GOP. After emailing him, he agreed to allow me to post them here, which will also be posted at me sloop.

Still counting provisional ballots

The N&O's Ryan Teague Beckwith reports that Ballot counting goes to wire:

... Counting provisional ballots is painstaking, no more so than when voters cast them at the wrong precinct. Ballots vary from one precinct to another because candidates for U.S. House, General Assembly and judge are elected by districts.

People may cast provisional ballots if their names are not on the list of registered voters at the polling place where they showed up to vote. If they are later found to be eligible to vote, their ballots are counted.

The only way to count those provisional ballots is for elections workers such as Pace and Gilbert to mark a fresh ballot with the votes that should have been cast -- race by race, ballot by ballot.

An estimated 15,000 Wake voters cast provisional ballots, more than any other county in North Carolina. Elections staff worked 14-hour shifts over the weekend and on Monday to count them.

Still, Cherie Poucher, elections director, said they will not be finished in time for this morning's scheduled certification.

That will delay the state's final vote tally, and likely leave some close races -- including commissioner of agriculture, superintendent of public instruction and two Wake District judgeships -- up in the air a little longer. ...

Worth the read if you're interested in the North Carolina election in particular, or if you're interested in the process behind provisional balloting in general. It includes an inset-box with current tallies for races still up in the air.

More on the Raleigh GOP Attack

Such special people:

RALEIGH — An apparent supporter of three people arrested in an attack on the N.C. Republican Party headquarters tussled with two cameramen as they followed him from the Wake County Public Safety Center on Monday afternoon.

The young man shielded his face from the cameras as he left the first appearance hearing for David Reuben Hensley, Melissa Lynn Brown and Vanessa Marie Zuloaga, where he had tried to communicate with them from his front row seat. He smashed the cameras to the ground and ran.

Mom always taught me not to follow a mistake up with more mistakes. That is how you get Chernobyl.

Officials charged Asa Lincoln Collier, 18, of Cayce, S.C., with simple assault and two counts of damage to property in connection with the incident, according to a news release from the Raleigh Police Department. Officers were searching for the 5 foot 11 inch tall teen late Monday night.

They know his name and hometown. They have him on film, both still and video (caught some of it on the 10pm news). Turn yourself in, stupid. Will be interesting to find out which college he goes to. Too bad Peace College is for women. But 2 of the defendents are women. And the charges?

Wake County District Court Judge Robert Rader officially informed each defendant of the charge against him or her — felony malicious damaging by use of an incendiary device — and asked each whether he or she wanted a court-appointed attorney, would supply one, or would represent himself of herself.

It is interesting to note that these and other illegal political protests have been proportedly linked to Anarchists. New name for Progressives/Liberals? Check the rest of the article.

Will Mike E Get HIs Lottery?

The question on many news sites minds is will Mike Easley get his Educational Lottery?

There are many for or against a lottery, and many (like me), who can take it or leave it. My concern is that the lottery money would go to education, but not in the way we think it would. It should be earmarked specifically for K-12. Also, using the lottery money could mean that less money is coming out of the General fund towards education, and going towards Easley’s pet projects. See this post of mine regarding what other states have done with their lotteries. It isn’t pretty.

Cross Posted over at the Pirate’s Cove, Matey.

Statewide vote count ends tomorrow

Via the N&O, Results near for 3 top jobs:

... The State Board of Elections will release the official vote count Tuesday after tallying all provisional ballots, ending the races for commissioner of agriculture, superintendent of public instruction and state auditor.

"I'll be anxious to get the results," said Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb of Raleigh, who was trailing his Republican opponent, Steve Troxler, a Guilford County tobacco farmer, by 9,836 votes by Sunday afternoon.

In the race for superintendent of public instruction, Democrat June Atkinson was leading Republican Bill Fletcher by 2,927 votes. Atkinson is a former state school administrator from Raleigh. Fletcher, of Cary, is a member of the Wake County school board.

The race for state auditor remained the least ambiguous.

Republican Les Merritt of Zebulon was leading incumbent Ralph Campbell of Raleigh by more than 35,043 votes Sunday.

The N&O is still running the vote counts for other statewide offices at the top of their NC races page.

Raleigh GOP Vandalism Arrests

Unlike what some of the national papers have reported there were arrests:

Police caught none of the protesters from either demonstration.

But two neighbors did.

Hearing a commotion, John Robbins and a neighbor captured and detained three protesters until police arrived.

"I found them between the garages taking off their black clothes," Robbins said, adding that one of the female protesters bit him on the shoulder.

Vanessa Marie Zuloaga, 24, and Melissa Lynn Brown, 18, both of Columbia, S.C., and David Reuben Hensley, 20, of Raleigh were each charged with one count of causing malicious damage to property by use of an incendiary device, a felony. All three remained in the Wake County jail late Saturday, each being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. (Note: cannot wait to find out what college they attend)

Voting Problems in Craven County

A systems software glitch in Craven County’s electronic voting equipment is being blamed for a vote miscount that, when corrected, changed the outcome of at least one race in Tuesday’s election.

Then, in the rush to make right the miscalculation that swelled the number of votes for president here by 11,283 more votes than the total number cast, a human mistake further delayed accurate totals for the 40,534 who voted.

The glitch occurred Tuesday night as absentee ballot totals for one-stop early voting at three Craven County locations and ballots mailed-in were being entered, said Tiffiney Miller, Craven County Board of Elections director.

Looks like ES&S is looking to correct the issue, and the numbers are not official till Tuesday the 9th anyhow.

NC GOP Headquarters Vandalized

RALEIGH, N.C. — Authorities say an apparent mob of vandals caused some smoke damage inside of North Carolina Republican Party headquarters on Hillsborough Street late Friday night.

The building also had some broken windows, posters with political messages scattered around and vulgar words spraypainted on the walls.

The sign in front of the building was shattered and sprayed with graffiti.

It also appeared that the vandals intended to burn down the building. Police said they found Roman candles and wooden devices they believe could be used to start a fire.

The office is actually relatively close to several colleges, including North Carolina State U, Meredith College, Shaw University, and Peace College.

"This is not a political statement," (Raleigh PD spokesman Jim) Sughrue said. "A political statement is what we made Tuesday. This is a crime."

Cross posted at the Pirate’s Cove. (ps. this isn’t a blatant attempt to garner trackbacks. Noticed that posting was still open, and this is one of the few stories out there about NC)

Public Service Announcement

For a few hours Tuesday evening, I couldn't reach the Command Post; not via RSS, Web browser, or blog posting application. So I posted the articles intended for TCP to my personal blog, PS.

This may seem like a callow effort to promote traffic. Let me dissuade you from such an assumption. If you came here looking for updates on North Carolina's election, and think you may have missed something, feel free to visit. (Note that the link to PS is to the "NC Politics" category only, and not the main page.)

If, however, you weren't relying solely on TCP, and managed to get your info-fix elsewhere during heavy traffic times, don't bother. I just thought that those (dozen or so of you who may actually be) riveted by, rather than merely curious about, North State politics might appreciate the heads-up.

Three state positions still undecided

From the News & Observer's Kristin Collins, Todd Silberman and Jay Price, 3 top jobs await winner; Results for agriculture commissioner, schools superintendent and auditor still too close to call:

A day after the election, candidates in three Council of State races were still running the numbers, wondering who had won.

Some counties had corrections to make, and almost 75,000 provisional ballots remained uncounted, enough to throw the races for agriculture commissioner, superintendent of public instruction and state auditor into turmoil, perhaps for days.

State election officials said the final count of the provisional ballots, given to voters who recently moved into a district or have other problems that can't be resolved on Election Day, probably won't be complete until early next week.

Results in the agriculture commissioner race just seemed to grow murkier Wednesday, as changing tallies put Democrat Britt Cobb and Republican Steve Troxler in a dead heat.

The count late Wednesday showed Cobb edging Troxler by 1,538 votes. ...

In the superintendent of schools race, Bill Fletcher, a Wake County school board member, finished with a narrow edge of 3,231 votes. That would make him the first Republican elected to the job.

But Fletcher's Democratic opponent, former state school administrator June Atkinson, was not conceding. She hopes to become the first female state superintendent of schools.

"Right now, it's just wait and watch," said John Beatty, Atkinson's campaign manager.

Atkinson had hoped for a bigger lift from Democratic Gov. Mike Easley's strong showing, Beatty said. "We were hoping that his coattails would have helped." ...

The results of the rematch race for state auditor were so close that the man many named as the winner -- Republican challenger Les Merritt of Zebulon -- refused to claim victory.

He held a cushion of about 48,000 votes over three-term incumbent Ralph Campbell, a former Raleigh city councilman and a member of one of the city's most prominent families.

Still, that was less than 2 percent of the votes, and theoretically, provisional ballots could push Campbell close enough that he could seek a recount.

Merritt said that he wouldn't press things.

"Look, he's been in office for 12 years, and if the numbers (allow it), he's got every right to seek a recount," Merritt said. "I don't see anything wrong with that at all. If I'm successful, at the end of the day I'd still like to be able to work with Ralph on the transition."

The Council of State in North Carolina includes most of the Cabinet officials. It's one of those state-level things that not every state has. Perhaps to be explained in a future post; but you can think of it like any blue-ribbon panel: intended to do nothing, but do it splendidly.

Another first for the blogosphere

Via Greensboro is Talking, Blogger wins election:

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong on this, but just a quick note that with County Commissioner Jeff Thigpen’s win over Payne in the Register of Deeds race, he becomes the first blogger in Guilford County to win an election.  It will be interesting to hear from Jeff just how much he thinks the blog might have helped him considering the name recognition he already had coming off the county board. ...

I don't know if Thigpen is the first blogger to win an election. And if I'm not mistaken, he already held an elected office, during which time he started blogging. So "Politician turned blogger-politician wins election" might be more accurate. Unless you read the "in Guilford County" part to mean that Thigpen is the first blogger to win an election in Guilford county. Still, it has that dawn-of-an-era feel.

Also, please comment if I'm wrong on any of Thigpen's biographical particulars.

NC Returns-observations

Looks like NC had a slightly higher turnout then 2000:

With 90 percent of the state’s precincts reporting by 1 a.m., 3,029,953 people had voted in the presidential race. Four years ago, the total number of voters was 3,015,964.

State elections director Gary Bartlett figured turnout was near 65 percent, though officials won’t know until later this week. The state’s highest percentage turnout was 68 percent in 1984, but laws enacted since then allowing easier registration have made for larger voter rolls, explaining the higher numbers of ballots cast.

North Carolina also has had a good influx of transplants, which could account for the higher turnout. I would hazard to guess that the partisanship of the election didn’t change the dynamics all that much.

Taking a look at the individual counties, there really wasn’t much difference in who won the Presidential race 2004 than in 2000, in either the counties or the county returns. However, in Wake County (where the state capital of Raleigh is located) it was Bush 51% Kerry 48%. Bush 172,563 to Kerry 162,750 popular, with Badnarik getting 1,300 votes. In 2000, the percentages were similar, but in popular vote, Bush 142,494 and Gore 123,466. A large influx of new voters into the Wake county area.

Either way, Bush carried North Carolina by a large margin, 56% to 43%, with Badnarik getting 1%

Cross posted at the Pirate’s Cove.

NC Election results

Until the NC Board of Elections certifies all results, check the news at some of the papers' and TV stations' Web sites:

News 14 Carolina covers the Greenville area, the Triangle, and Charlotte. The Fayetteville Observer is running election stories on the front page, rather than putting them in a dedicated directory (or, to use journalism-ese, "section"). So is the Winston-Salem Journal, with results from the 10 counties the paper serves. The Wilmington Star-News has updated results in a special election section (or, to use the Web-ese, "directory", though they're using a database so it's not quite a directory), where you can get results from further down east and the coast. From the Charlotte Observer's politics page, you can access local election coverage along the NC-SC border. and the Asheville Citizen-Times has coverage of races up in the mountains.

That should keep you busy and informed, though that doesn't represent comprehensive coverage of all local races in North Carolina. Also, feel free to review some useful 2004 election links.

[Cross-posted to PS.]

NC Winners

Looks like the big winners in NC are Easley(D), Burr®, and Bush®. Almost had the Killer B’s.

Walter Jones(R-3), Bob Etheridge(D-2), and Brad Miller(D-13) keep their seats in Congress. Also projected are Butterfield(D-1)), David Price(D-4), Virginia Foxx(R-5), Howard Coble(R-6), Mike McIntyre (D-7), Robin Hayes(R-8), Sue Myrick(R-9), Patrick McHenry(R-10), Charles Taylor(R-11), and Mel Watt(D-12). Number is the District for US House.

Amendment 1 is 51% Yes, Amendments 2 and 3 pass easily.

Numbers courtesy WRAL. Cross posted at Pirate’s Cove.

District 3

According to CBS, Jones beats Eaton.

Burr Projected Winner

With 63% in, Burr is the projected winner for John Edwards vacated Senate seat. Burr is up 52% to 47%

Butterfield wins 1st District

Butterfield Retained In First U.S. House District Seat:

RALEIGH, N.C. -- G.K. Butterfield, who was already representing the First District after winning a special election, has defeated the same opponent for a second time to retain his seat.

Butterfield defeated Republican Greg Dority in the rematch.

The special election arose after Rep. Frank Ballance retired from office.

With 2 percent of the vote counted, unofficial returns show Butterfield with 61 percent, and Dority with 39 percent.

UPDATED: Nothing special, I just deleted some extraneous text here at the end of the post.

Two incumbent Democrats leading US House races

Via the News & Observer, David Price leads Todd Batchelor 76,349 votes, or 75 percent, to 24,861, or 25 percent, and Bob Etheridge led challenger Billy Creech in early election returns.

[Cross-posted at PS.]

Durham County

Interesting trend in Durham County, NC. In 2000, Gore carried it 53,150 to 29,799. In 2004, with 100% reporting, it is Kerry 72,986 to Bush 34,124. That is a around an 8% increase in votes. Will that trend hold?

District 13

Via the News & Observer, Miller v. Johnson:

RALEIGH - Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh took an early lead Tuesday night in his race for a second term in the U.S. House, taking strong support over his GOP challenger in the heavily Democratic 13th District.

With 24 of 201 precincts reporting, Miller, a Democrat, had 59 percent to Virginia Johnson's 40 percent.

Miller, a 51-year-old lawyer, has focused on the working poor in his district, which stretches along the Virginia line between Raleigh and Greensboro and suffered heavy job losses in the textile, tobacco and furniture industries.

As the results started to trickle in Tuesday, he was on his way back from a final campaign stop in Wake Forest.

Johnson, 45, of Greensboro, campaigned harder than many expected in the 13th, where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 2-to-1. Born in Reidsville, she has never held public office but spent eight years as a counsel to the House Ethics and Armed Services committees. She often noted on the campaign trail that Miller had helped draw the 13th's boundaries while leading a redistricting committee in the state Senate.

In September, she won an endorsement from U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who stumped for her that month and said Miller "drew his district by hand, for himself." Johnson also worked hard to portray herself as a social conservative with appeal to Democrats and Republicans.

There's still room for this to swing, but several of the counties in this district have already gone for Kerry.

[Cross-posted at PS.]

Bowles-Burr

With 42% reporting, Burr® is up over Bowles(D) 52-47

As an FYI, I am getting numbers from multiple places, including WRAL TV and their website, the local NBC and ABC stations, as well as Fox and News 14.

Ballentine has Conceded

Witness a concession speech by Mr. Ballentine on several NC tv station, including WRAL and WTVD.

Ogre Overheard

From Ogre’s Politics and Views, he overheard some chatter while waiting to vote:

“I don’t want to be drafted, that’s why I’m voting.”

“You don’t have ID? They won’t let you vote!”

“Is this the guy that ran the ads? You know, the ads with that woman in them. I don’t want to vote for him.”

“Self-Financing Bonds? What’s that? Where does the money come from?”

NC Gov Race called

WRAL has called the NC Gov race for Easley:

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Mike Easley handily won re-election Tuesday, persuading voters that citizens harmed by job losses in textiles and furniture and the recession would see better times in the next four years.

WRAL shows Easley ahead 56-42, but with only 13% reporting.

NC Incoming polls

For the Amendments, with 2% reporting, #2 and #3 have massive support for Yes. #1 is slightly in the Yes column.

Bush 51 Kerry 49, 6% reporting.

Bowles 52 Burr 46, 6% reporting

Easley 59 Ballentine 39, 6% reporting

Bush Leading In NC, But Not Officially

CNN TV has bush leading the popular vote in NC 62% to 38%, but has yet to call the state.

Some NC happenings

Finally able to get back on line, sorry for the delay. Long story involving cable.

From radio stations WPTF-680 and WRAL 101.5, have heard reports of:

1. The Wake County Dept of Transportation has already started picking up campaign signs, to the tune of 5,000 or so. They also say around 10,000 sprung up. While somewhat funny, it is also true.

2. There are reports of at least 20,000 election complaints, type of which haven’t been reported.

3. There was actually a BBC reporter in Raleigh today, though that was apparently TV or radio only, nothing in print.

4 Early returns are showing Bush, Ballentine, and Burr ahead, though there is a limited amount of returns counted.

Sample ballots

If you want to see what my ballot looked like - without the votes, of course! - take a look at the Wake County ballot. WRAL posts links to several of the surrounding counties' ballots.

Voting unsurprisingly heavy

Via News 14 Carolina, Early voter turnout creates long lines at precincts:

... Many voters that waited in line were very passionate about this election.

"They're all important but I think this one is extremely important really, I think it's probably one of the most important elections we've had since 1860, so I think that it's good that people are responding and coming out to vote," said voter Henry Zaytoun.

Wake County has 2,000 polling booths available to voters. The polls close at 7:30 p.m.

State election officials have been predicting a turnout of 60 percent.

After nearly 1,000,000 people voted during early voting in North Carolina, I don't think anyone expected light voter turnout. And WRAL meteorologists are predicting decent weather across North Carolina today. So you can expect a link or two later on polls staying open past closing time. (In NC, if you show up before closing time, you get to vote.)

Flash Poll

From News14 online, a flash poll is showing, at this time, that 51% believe the country will be more divide, 41% say will stay the same, and 8% think it will be more unified.

Only 49 people had voted, so we will see where this goes during the day. Stay tuned AFTER you vote.

Heavy Turnout In NC

I haven’t seen any evidence of surpression yet. It has stopped raining in Charlotte and I have reports that the rain has ended throughout the state. I predict turnout will rise.

More at the UnitedLeft

Go vote in NC

If you haven’t voted yet in NC, now is about the best time to go. The lines tend to go way down between 9 and 12. News 14 TV and several friends have informed me that many of the polling stations have very few people there.

DOT employees shouldn't vote on taxpayers' dime

From the News & Observer's "Under the Dome" team (Dan Kane, J. Andrew Curliss, and Matthew Eisley): Memo to state workers: Vote on own time:

A state Transportation Department memo telling employees to avoid voting during normal work hours isn't playing well with the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

The memo from DOT Human Resources Director Herb Henderson, issued Friday, tells employees that the Office of State Personnel has advised that they should vote outside of working hours.

"If an employee must vote during their assigned work time, this must be approved by the supervisor in advance, and the employee should follow the agency/university's normal leave procedures for using the appropriate leave (vacation/bonus or compensatory leave)," Henderson's memo said.

Association Executive Director Dana Cope said it appears to be a suppressive policy that the department should reconsider.

"In a best case scenario this is an attempt by the administration and DOT to just not be very employee friendly," Cope said. "At worst it's an attempt to try to suppress the state employee turnout on Election Day."

Ashley Memory, a DOT spokeswoman, said the memo doesn't change the department's policy on voting; it just puts it in writing. Henderson could not be reached for comment.

Cope said the association's phones were ringing off the hook shortly after the DOT memo went out. Cope is a former employee at the state Department of Labor, and he said that agency and others had allowed employees to take paid leave to cast their ballots.

SEANC's executive board endorsed Gov. Mike Easley's opponent in the election -- former state senator Patrick Ballantine. But Cope doesn't think Easley is behind the memo. ...

I don't know whether other state departments and agencies have similarly advised their employees. If I see anything, I'll post it.

College students navigate absentee voting

Jenny Bonilla, writing in the Duke Chronicle yesterday, discovered that Absentee voting frustrates students:

Keith Greenberg was rejected. The freshman's first voting experience, in Florida's August primaries, was disenfranchisement, and he's one of the few who actually know why.

Greenberg is just one of many students who have faced challenges in the election process. Some students, especially those from swing states like Ohio and Florida, have opted to take advantage of absentee ballots in hopes that their votes will have a stronger impact in their home states than in North Carolina. But many are still wary that their votes might not be counted accurately.

In the wake of the 2000 presidential election, the CalTech/MIT Voting Technology Project found that between 4 and 6 million votes were lost due to a variety of problems including voter registration mix-ups, faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots and polling place problems. Several students have reported that, in their experience, these problems seem far from cured.

Greenberg's absentee ballot for the Aug. 31 primary was thrown out because he did not include a photocopy of proper identification with his vote. Not only did he fail to receive notification until late September, but the state also did not include any instructions directing first-time absentee voters to include a copy of proper identification. The law requiring that "you must make a copy" of such information just went into effect this past January. ...

There doesn't appear to be any criminal intent in Florida behind the problems. Nor at Duke, where slow mail processing may be to blame for the delays some students have experienced receiving their absentee ballots.

Wake County, NC: school delay

Posted multiple places, but from WRAL: Schools Adjust Schedules For Election Day.

Durham, Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools are giving all students the day off.

A backward glance before voting

The AP's Gary Robertson wrote a retrospective yesterday on North Carolina's election season. From the Durham Herald-Sun, N.C. election season long on history :

RALEIGH, N.C. -- For a general election season shortened by redistricting litigation, politics in North Carolina this year sure were long on history.

Historic because a North Carolina resident was chosen a major party's vice presidential nominee for the first time since Whig Party hopeful William Alexander Graham in 1852.

Historic because GOP lawmakers spent millions fighting each other in the July 20 primary over the creation of a co-speakership in the state House.

And candidates went to great lengths to compare themselves or their opponents to past political figures, including Jesse Helms, Bill Clinton, and even Saddam Hussein.

On the eve of Election Day, here's a quick look back at some of the most memorable moments of the 2004 election season....

Just recaps the state-wide races - but includes Easley's comparison of challenger Ballentine (R) to Saddam Hussein (I).

Polls Open

Polls open in NC at 6:30 this sunny am, and the 3 MSM affilliates are showing long lines. I also took a quick walk as the coffee was brewing to take a look at the polling place across the street, and it is busy! All 3 have made mention of a possibility of a long recount process.

Many have asked what station is the best to watch. I would say News14 if you have Time Warner cable. NC news 24/7. ANd they just showed a humongous line!

Moronski predicts...the Senate

Today in political punditry from Sean Moronski, he casts an eye over the US Senate races.

Every two years, approximately one-third of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs.  Currently, the GOP has 51 seats to the Dems 49 (including the so-called “independent” from Vermont).  In addition to help shape legislation and policy, this body is responsible for granting consent to judges, cabinet members, and other Federal officials.  Given the potential for several Supreme Court appointments over the next several years, control of this chamber may shape the Federal Judiciary for the next generation.

Almost every political observer believes the parties will swap seats in Georgia (to GOP) and Illinois (Dems win).  Putting aside the non-competitive races, there are eight races that will determine control of the Senate - four in the South and four west of the Mississippi in GOP country.  Of these seats, five are held by Democrats and three by Republicans.

North Carolina.  John Edwards chose to run for Vice President rather than face almost certain defeat facing reelection.  The Dem nominee is Erskine Bowles, former Clinton Chief of Staff, who lost a tough fight in 2002 to Elizabeth Dole.  U.S. Rep. Richard Burr has the GOP nod.  Bowles had a solid lead for weeks, but the race has closed to even in this solidly pro-Bush state. 

South Carolina. After 36 years of serving as Strom Thurmond’s junior Senator, Ernest Hollings is calling it quits.  Republicans nominated U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint while the Dems are running State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum.  DeMint is running as a big Bush backer in this hardcore GOP state while Tenenbaum is downplaying any connection to Kerry or the national Democrat party.  Probably a good strategy in a state Bush won’t lose.

Florida.  Another prominent Democrat, Bob Graham, decided to call it a career.  The White House asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez to run.  The Dem nominee is former State Education official Betty Castor.  This big race has been the sideshow in the media’s non-stop examination of the Presidential race here.  

Louisiana.  The wildest of wild cards with a unique open primary system that send the top two finishers regardless of party to a December runoff if no one candidate gets 50% plus one vote on Election Day.  GOP candidate U.S. Rep. David Vitter is virtually assured of making the runoff, polling in the low to mid-40s.  The race here is whether the national Democrats can prevent him from winning outright on November 2, as well as what Democrat would make a runoff.  Louisiana has never elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate, nor has one served from there since Reconstruction. 

South Dakota.  Major race in a state with fewer than 800,000 people.  Home of Senate Democrat leader Tom Daschle, promoting his role as provider of Federal largesse instead of being Bush’s chief opposition in Washington.  Not unwise given that Bush is likely to win this state by at least 15 to 20 points.  His GOP opponent, former U.S. Rep. John Thune, lost a Senate seat here in 2002 by fewer than 600 votes.

Oklahoma.  Surprise GOP retirement opened up safe seat in a sure Bush state.  The GOP nominee, former U.S. Rep Tom Coburn, an obstetrician and anti-GOP establishment type, has made every mistake he can to turn a potential 25 to 30 point Bush lead into a horserace against the state’s lone Democrat congressman, Brad Carson.

Colorado.  Another GOP retirement put this seat in play.  Democrats nominated State Attorney General Ken Salazar while the Republicans are going with Pete Coors (“cold filtered… not heat pasteurized”).  Yes, that Coors.  Rocky Mountain Cold.

Alaska.  In a word — nepotism.  After being elected, new Governor Frank Murkowski had to appoint a successor to the U.S. Senate seat he vacated.  Of course he chose his daughter Lisa, a state senator.  This boneheaded move did the near impossible, creating a competitive U.S. Senate race in Alaska.  The Dem nominee is former two-term governor Tony Knowles.  This state has no business having a competitve statewide race in a presidential election year where Bush will win by 20+ points.

Bottom line… Dems must win 7 of the 8 races to gain control, or 6 if Kerry wins and Edwards can make himself useful and break ties.  All of these states were won by Bush in 2000, seven of them convincingly.  It can go either way… predictions next week.  

Sean is a former YR Chairman and political hack that successfully domesticated himself recently. His keen eye for politics has not waned as yet.

Picking the President

Remember, me hearties, that, on the North Carolina Ballot, a straight ticket vote includes neither the Presidential vote or votes for judges. Avast! Do not forget to choose.

Amendment 2 and 3 on the NC ballots

Amendment 2: Constitutional amendment to provide that the General Assembly may place the clear proceeds of civil penalties, civil forfeitures and civil fines collected by a state agency in a state fund to be used exclusively for maintaining free public schools.

Amendment 3: Constitutional amendment to provide for the first-term of office for magistrates of the General Court of Justice to be two years and for subsequent terms to be four years.

Again, no spin. Both have been said to be great and bad by the Raleigh News and Observer.

Amendment 1 on NC Ballots

Amendment 1: Constitutional amendment to promote local economic and community development projects by (i) permitting the General Assembly to enact general laws giving counties, cities, and towns the power to finance public improvements associated with qualified private economic and community improvements within development districts, as long as the financing is secured by the additional tax revenue resulting from the enhanced property value within the development district and is not secured by a pledge of the local government’s faith and credit or general taxing authority, which financing is not subject to a referendum; and (ii) permitting the owners of property in the development district to agree to a minimum tax value for their property, which is binding on future owners as long as the development district is in existence.

You will have to make up your minds on this one, folks. This a no spin zone. The only comment I will provide is that I have seen conservative bloggers and DU‘ers against this one, which has failed 2x. But others are for it.

Senate and Governor Race: latest polls

The most recent polls show incumbent Gov Mike Easley leading Patrick Ballentince 54%-38%, 8% undecided. (625 RV) Oct 25-26, Mason-Dixon.

Erskine Bowles leads Richard Burr in the US Senate race 46.4 to 46.1 (625 RV) Mason-Dixon.