When Mac Butner started his rounds at 6:30 p.m. Monday, he was surprised. As he put up signs for a Republican candidate at polling places, he found he was the first to put up any primary day signs.

He thought he caught a whiff of apathy.

But that changed by the time Butner went to cast his own ballot at Milford Hills City on Tuesday afternoon.

"Somebody watered the political grass seeds," he said. "There were signs galore."

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The relaxing scene could have taken place on a beach, but poll workers Jace Thomas and Karen Sellers had asphalt under their chairs, not sand.

At East Rowan High School since 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for last-minute campaigning with Gold Knob voters, they were looking restful by 2 p.m.

What could convince someone to take on such a job?

For Sellers, it was Bill Graham. She has worked for the Salisbury attorney for 15 years, she said, and she was campaigning for him for governor on Tuesday.

As for Thomas, Sellers said, "he didn't have a choice."

Thomas was holding up signs for county commission candidate Carl Ford — his father-in-law.

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The biggest campaign sign outside the Gold Knob polling place Tuesday was for Texas congressman Ron Paul. The Republican presidential hopeful has not withdrawn from the race, despite John McCain's apparent nomination.

Paul received 550 votes in Rowan County to McCain's 7,332.

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Members of the Post's Voters Panel talked about their vote on Tuesday:

Jan McCanless of China Grove, unaffiliated: "I voted Democratic for several reasons. Mostly, I feel our economic problems, the war, immigration issues and others have been badly mishandled. The only way to rectify it is to 'clean house.' My choice this election has been to vote for Hillary Clinton. She certainly understands Washington, and she has intelligence and savvy when it comes to dealing with whatever allies we have left."

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Patrick Borgquist of Spencer, Democrat: "I voted for Barack Obama because I honestly feel he lies less than the two other candidates. So essentially I had to vote for the lesser of the three evils."

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Lynda Kirkpatrick, Democrat: "I voted for Hillary Clinton. I believe in her. She has fought hard for so long to get affordable health care for everyone, plus she has an excellent plan to boost education that also includes grants to low- and middle-class families who cannot afford to send their children to college. I like her plan to bring our troops home. This war has depleted our economy to a point that we are borrowing money from China to run our country. That is a downright shame!"

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Evelyn McMahon, Democrat: "I took advantage of early voting weeks ago. ... I voted for Barack Obama for president because I believe he is the one most likely to work with other branches of government for the good of our country. ... It's time we came together."

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Mike Link, Republican: "I voted for John McCain since he has wrapped up the nod."

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John Cowan, Democrat: "I was only surprised by the energy, the excitement and the enthusiasm of the voters to cast their ballots. It was almost electric. ... It was clear that people were hungry for change."

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Carrie Grubbs of Salisbury, Republican: "I voted for Mike Huckabee in the election if for no other reason than to make a statement. I didn't see the need for voting for McCain as he has the nomination already. I voted for Huckabee because he is my first choice, and I think he would have made a much better president. However, in the absence of something better, I will vote for McCain in the general election."

— Elizabeth Cook

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