Sept. 9, 2006 – The heat was scarcely bearable, yet that didn't stop the volunteers and voters from participating in Saturday's primary elections. The day seemed to get off to a slow start as most voters seemed to wait until later in the morning and afternoon to cast their votes.
Polling stations were full of campaign supporters, dressed in the vivid colors of their candidates, setting up tents and tables, trying to persuade residents to vote.
As the day progressed the feeling became hypnotic. Calypso songs tailored for specific candidates boomed from loud speakers atop designated vehicles. These poster-clad jeeps and trucks beeped loudly, in tune with the rhythm, encouraging spectators to get to the polls and "VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!"
Polling stations had the aura of a large block party or family reunion as supporters yelled the names and numbers of their candidates to passersby.
When volunteers in front of Elena Christian Junior High School were asked how their day was going, they answered: "Hot, hot, hot!"
That declaration begged the questions: Does all the shouting and chanting of "No. 4!" or "No. 2!" really persuade voters to get to the polls? Does it encourage a vote for that candidate when voters get to the polls?
"People need to see a representative of the candidate at the polls," said volunteer Carmen Miray, who also acknowledged, "Their minds are usually made up by the time they get here."
At one polling station, teenagers and young children alike hooted and called to cars to support their candidates.
"It shows that [the candidate] wants to be elected," said Jamal Barnes, a senior at St. Croix Educational Complex.
Next to him, fellow student Alexandria Bethel explained that her candidate "offers summer jobs and community service efforts."
Even though they are now too young to vote, these future voters are determined to be well-informed.
At another location, 7-year-old Adriel Sanes waved a sign in support of his uncle. His proud mother explained they had been at the polls since early in the morning. Adriel's hat shielded him from the sun, but his tooth-filled smile caught spectators' eyes from the road. As they passed by he waved his flag and flashed his smile.
Whether or not their presence stirs voter direction, volunteers do what they can to support their candidates.
"A small percentage of votes will be influenced by people they know endorsing a particular candidate," said Mark Ferdschneider, a native of Long Island, N.Y., who relocated to the island more than 30 years ago.
The turnout for this year's primary was tremendous, according to the Board of Elections. The count at 10 a.m. was 2,056 votes cast, with 11.2 percent of voters coming out to make their decision known. The number is double the turnout of last election.
By 4 p.m. the count doubled, reaching 4,525 votes or 24.5 percent of eligible voters.
Board of Elections Vice-Chairman Dodson James said voting machines were up and running on time and with no glitches, though he said some voters were confused as to the specifics of the voting process.
"Even though we give machine demonstrations, people seem to still be intimidated," James said.
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