MONROE - At 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, just 15 minutes before polls closed, Green County Clerk Mike Doyle and his staff were waiting, on alert for the coming election tallies from precincts across the county, and keeping an eye on the televised national returns. He noted the state Government Accountability Board predicted a 70 percent turnout of eligible - not registered - voters in the state.
There were 19,366 votes cast in the county.
"I hope it's not so close we have to have a recount, after such a busy election year," he said. Doyle said the county has had a hand in five elections this year - spring, two primaries, the governor recall and now the national, and a partial hand in the Oregon School District referendum in February.
"Even if (the presidential race) isn't close," Doyle said, "it might be for Senate."
Doyle said the board of canvassers will meet next Tuesday and any call for a recount will have to come by end of Friday.
Down the street, Carol Stamm, clerk for the City of Monroe, was also busy working at the polling station at city hall.
A total of 4,988 voters had entered their ballots by 7:55 p.m., but the station was still a buzz with voters in the last five minutes of the election.
The number of voters does not include absentee ballots. Stamm did not have an exact count of absentee ballots yet; those posted marked by Tuesday may continue to come into her office until 4 p.m. Friday.
She agreed with Doyle, hoping for no recounts coming next week.
Stamm said one of the busiest times for voting occurred at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and another was between 5 and 6 p.m.
Lafayette County Clerk Linda Bawden also reported strong turnout during the day, with no problems reported.
There were 19,366 votes cast in the county.
"I hope it's not so close we have to have a recount, after such a busy election year," he said. Doyle said the county has had a hand in five elections this year - spring, two primaries, the governor recall and now the national, and a partial hand in the Oregon School District referendum in February.
"Even if (the presidential race) isn't close," Doyle said, "it might be for Senate."
Doyle said the board of canvassers will meet next Tuesday and any call for a recount will have to come by end of Friday.
Down the street, Carol Stamm, clerk for the City of Monroe, was also busy working at the polling station at city hall.
A total of 4,988 voters had entered their ballots by 7:55 p.m., but the station was still a buzz with voters in the last five minutes of the election.
The number of voters does not include absentee ballots. Stamm did not have an exact count of absentee ballots yet; those posted marked by Tuesday may continue to come into her office until 4 p.m. Friday.
She agreed with Doyle, hoping for no recounts coming next week.
Stamm said one of the busiest times for voting occurred at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and another was between 5 and 6 p.m.
Lafayette County Clerk Linda Bawden also reported strong turnout during the day, with no problems reported.