By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Record numbers of Rowan County residents had already flocked to the polls, but there were some traditionalists like Carolyn Hillard who just had to vote on Tuesday.
Hillard said she has always voted on the day.
“I’ve been following (the campaign) very closely,” she said.
The Faith resident said she voted for Sen. John McCain.
Hillard said she voted for McCain because he was a conservative.
“He’s going to look out for the country and keep the country safe,” she said.
Ronnie Osian, of Faith, voted Tuesday for the first time.
He said he’s seen more advertisements about various campaigns.
Osian added he felt as though he knew a little more about the issues.
He voted for Sen. Barack Obama for president.
“He’s more for the middle class and equal opportunities. Also he’s not going to tax health insurance,” Osian said.
John Bruce, chief judge at the Faith precinct, said the turnout for Tuesday has gone “exceptionally well.”
“We had 888 people who voted ahead of time,” Bruce said.
As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday the precinct had 475 people vote.
“It’s a really good turnout for this precinct,” Bruce said.
He said the voting site was busier earlier in the day, but volunteers expected it to pick back up after some voters were done at work.
Carnell Garrison, chief judge at the East Spencer precinct, also said voter turnout had been pretty good.
“It’s sort of not what we usually have but we had early voters, so that made a difference,” she said.
Garrison said a lot of people had already been to the polls to vote.
As of 1 p.m., Garrison estimated about 205 people had been to the precinct on Tuesday to vote.
Henry Wilder, of East Spencer, voted on Tuesday, he said because he figured others had already been and “it wouldn’t take that long.”
Wilder cast his vote for Obama, he said.
“I think it’s time for a change,” he said.
It was Obama’s idea of giving a break to the less fortunate that drew Wilder to his choice.