Record number of residents here cast ballots

Voters occupy the booths at the VFW building Gaffney, part of 20,935 to take part in the election. Cherokee County voters turned out in large numbers Tuesday, apparently setting an all-time record.

According to the final vote tally, 74 percent, or 20,935 of the 28,210 registered county voters went to the polls in Tuesday's presidential election. Absentee ballots made up 3,154 of that total.

The turnout was up about 4 percent from the number who voted in the 2004 presidential election.

In the 2000 presidential election, the turnout was 63 percent. In the recent off-year elections, the turnout in 2006 was 45 percent, while 55 percent of the registered voters cast ballots in 2002.

Cherokee County Election Commission Chairman Suzanne Turner characterized Tuesday's precedent-setting turnout in one word - overwhelming.

"It was overwhelming. As far as I know, it's a record," Turner said. "It was really hectic this morning, but it kinda tapered off about 11 a.m. and there didn't seem to be anybody waiting at 7 p.m. (when the polls closed)."

Despite the large volume of voters, Turner said there were only a few minor glitches.

"We had a few battery problems with the voting machines," Turner said.

The election commission will meet Friday to certify the election results. At that time, the commission will count the fail safe, paper and emergency/provisional ballots, which total about 100, Turner said.