UPDATE: High Turnout, Moderators Say, On Election Day 2012 in Montville

Update at 12:50 p.m.:

Andrew Jackson is 74 and he said that this may be one of the most important elections in his lifetime.

"I was excited when I woke up this morning," Jackson said after voting at the Mohegan Firehouse early Tuesday morning. "It is big. It is important. For (his children and grandchildren). I wouldn't want to see them left with big debt or not be able to pay for college. So this is very, very important to me."

By 8:45 a.m., more than 20 percent of registered voters in Districts 2 and 5 had already cast their ballots. 

"It is busy. We had a line at the door before we opened at 6," moderator John O'Keeffe said. Does it feel like the election of 2008? "Yes, I think it may ever be more. I'd say we're going to have a good, good turnout this year."

Outside the polling location, traffic was thick and parking was at a premium. And 75 feet away from the entrance to the polls stood incumbent Rep. Kevin Ryan, the Democratic state assemblyman is seeking another term. 

"I'm excited," he said. "People are coming in and out, so that's good."

* * * * 

Over at Town Hall, in the gymnasium, voter Chrissy King said she didn't want her picture taken; "No way. But I'll tell you who I voted for. President Obama and all the Democrats except I voted for the new guy, Mr. (Leon) Moore. He's young and we need some new blood." The Republican is running against Ryan. 

Moderator Lorilyn Birkbeck described voting at her location as "steady, not busy but pretty steady." By 9 a.m., nearly 400 people had voted there. "That's pretty good," she said. 

Poll worker Grace Richter, a fresh-faced 76, said she was "thrilled again" to be working an election. 

"I've been doing this on and off for a few years and I really love it."

Outside, Democrat Betsy Ritter, who is seeking the 38th district Assembly seat, said what she will "miss on Wednesday is going door to door."

"That’s how I spent a lot of this campaign, knocking on doors and meeting the people where they are. So it will feel strange to wake up and know I won't be knocking on anymore doors."

* * * * 

At Fair Oaks School Community Center, it was bustling; though poll workers kept the lines moving. 

Moderator Donna Carlson described what was going on there as "exhilarating."

She said there's "more voter than in 2008, more people are coming out and it's just amazing."

"People are excited and exceptionally friendly. It's a good day," she said adding that as of 9 a.m., hundreds had voted and she was told by moderator Dick Wilson down the hall that the turnout was at more than 75 percent; "Wow!"

Speaking of Wilson, he said turnout, based on his calculations, was at 89 percent in District 4: "Montville voters always turnout for a presidential election."

Outside, Cynthia Moore, wife of candidate Leon Moore was all smiles and thumbs-up.

"Feeling good," she said. 

Original story:

Good morning, and welcome to Election Day 2012!

Today, Montville residents go to the polls to choose a president, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative from the Second District, state senators from the 19th and 20th districts and state representatives from the 38th, 42nd and 139th districts.

See below for information on where to go to cast your ballot and the list of candidates on your respective ballots, which are also attached.

We've also included how Montville voted in 2008, the year of the last presidential election, and in 2010, the last mid-term election.

Read it over, then visit your local polling station between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make your voice heard! And be sure to check back with Montville Patch for updates throughout the day, check in with us on Facebook, too and don't miss the announcement of the winners as soon as votes are tallied.

Montville Polling Stations

• District #1 and #6: Town Hall Gymnasium, 310 Norwich-New London Turnpike
• District #2 and #5: Mohegan Firehouse 
• District #3 and #4: Fair Oaks School Community Center 836 Old Colchester Road, Oakdale

 
The Candidates

Barack Obama (D) President

Mitt Romney   (R) President

Johnson/Gray (L) President

Linda McMahon  (R) US Senate                              

Chris Murphy  (D) US Senate

Paul Passerelli (L) US Senate

Joseph Courtney  (D) Second Congressional District  

Paul Formica  (R) Second Congressional District

Colin D. Bennett (G) Second Congressional District

Daniel J. Reale (L) Second Congressional District

Kevin Ryan  (D)         Assembly District 139

Leon Moore  (R) Assembly District 139 

Tony Siragusa  (R) Assembly District 38

Elizabeth Ritter (D) Assembly District 38 

Mike France  (R) Assembly District 42

Timothy Bowles  (D) Assembly District 42 

Chris Coutu  (R) Senate District 19

Catherine Osten  (D) Senate District 19

Mike Doyle    (R) Senate District 20

Andrea Stillman  (D) Senate District 20

Marc Guttman (L) Senate District 20

How Montville Voted in 2008 (81% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman)

PRESIDENT

• Obama-Biden (D) — 4438 votes
• McCain-Palin (R) — 3526 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2nd DISTRICT

• Joseph Courtney (D) — 4490 votes
• Sean Sullivan (R) —  2319 votes

19th SENATE DISTRICT

• Edith G. Prague (D) — 1400 votes
• Edith G. Prague (WF) — 224 votes

20th SENATE DISTRICT

• Thomas C. Simones (R) -- 1915 votes
• Andrea Stillman (D) -- 3239 votes
• Marc L. Guttman (L) -- 101 votes

139th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Kevin Ryan (D) — 3386 votes

How Montville Voted in 2010 (60% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman; SA=Socialist Action)

U.S. SENATE

• Richard Blumenthal (D) — 2971votes
• Linda McMahon (R) — 2422 votes
• Richard Blumenthal (WF) -- 203
• Dr. John Mertens (CL) -- 55
• Warren B. Mosler (I) -- 100

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2nd DISTRICT

• Joseph Courtney (D) — 3408 votes
• Janet Peckinpaugh (R) — 2031 votes
• Joseph Courtney (WF) -- 215
• G. Scott Deshefy (G) -- 110

19th SENATE DISTRICT

• Edith G. Prague (D) — 773 votes
• Sean Sullivan (R) — 709 votes
• Edith G. Prague (WF) -- 64

20th SENATE DISTRICT

• Andrea Stillman (D) -- 2323 votes
• Daniel Docker (R) -- 1608 votes
• Marc Guttman (L) -- 94 votes

38th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 

• Tony Siragusa (R) -- 722 votes
• Betsy Ritter (D) -- 655 votes

42nd ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Tom Reynolds (D) -- 562 votes
• John A. Rodolico (R) -- 376

139th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Kevin Ryan (D) — 1902 votes
• Leon Moore (R) — 1274 votes

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