Strong voter turnout continues at Cedar Rapids church

Posted on Nov 03, 2009 by Admin.

Voters fill out their ballots at Oakland Church of the Nazarene, 3000 42nd St. NE, this afternoon, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. The church was among the precincts with the highest number of voters. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

The doors at Oakland Church of the Nazarene are getting a workout today as voters make their picks.

About 560 people had cast ballots as of 2 p.m., surprising the poll workers. A line of about 20 people had formed when the polls opened this morning.

“There hasn’t been a lull of more than about 30 seconds,” precinct 23 chairwoman Dorothy Evans said. “We think, ‘Oh it’s empty in here,’ and bingo, four or five come in.”

The church, at 3000 42nd St. NE, was trailing only Bethany Lutheran Church, 2202 Forest Dr. SE, for the most number of voters at 11 a.m., according to the Linn County Auditor’s office.

Evans said she figured there would be higher interest in this year’s election, but turnout has exeeded her expectations.

“Everybody’s very conscious of the problems that we’ve encountered, and I think we’re all anxious for some solutions,” Evans said. “And this is such an active precinct. They are very conscientious citizens.”

The polls remain open until 8 p.m.