A Sunny Start For A Day At The Polls

Election Day in Reston started with beautiful weather and light-but-steady poll traffic as voters went to the polls Tuesday to vote on new school board members, state legislators and a $252 million bond referendum.

In 2009 -- a year in which many local races were contested -- voter turnout was 40.4 percent statewide, according to the state board of elections.

But "I'll be surprised if we break 30 percent countywide," Cameron Quinn, in charge of elections, told Patch Tuesday morning. That figure is consistent with voter turnout in 2007.  The county, as of Nov. 1, had 640,689 "active" voter registrations. That figure would be just a little lower than four years ago, she said.

This year, some citizens voted the ticket, as they said they always did. But others said they were drawn to the polls by one of this year's issues.

"I'm here because it is time to move some of the incumbents out," said Randy Jenus, an Independent who was waiting in a short line to vote at Aldrin Elementary School at mid-morning. "Most definitely on the school board. Stu Gibson is gone, and that is a good thing."

Taimur Kahn, native of Pakistan, has lived in the United States for two decades. He became a  U.S. citizen three years ago, and says voting is an important responsibility.

An key issue for Kahn in 2011? "$17 tolls," Kahn said after he voted at Aldrin. "I am an Independent and I voted for [Patrick] Forrest."

Republican State Senate candidate Forrest is trying to unseat longtime incumbent Janet Howell. The forecast of $17 tolls - and how to control the cost - has been a main platform of Forrest's campaign.

Over at the polling place at Reston Community Center, Sheila and Ben Gold voted together. Their kids are grown, but the Reston couple said they still voted for school board members, as well as incumbents Howell and Del. Ken Plum (D).

"We always vote," Sheila Gold said.

Also outside of RCC: School Board candidate Pat Hynes. Hynes, running for the Hunter Mill seat vacated by Gibson, said she began her day at precincts in Fox Mill and will try to visit all 25 Hunter Mill voting spots today.

Hynes, the Democratic endorsee, is running against another newcomer, Nancy Linton.

"It's a hard to know what your emotions will be [when Election Day is over]," said Hynes. "We worked really hard. If it doesn't work out for me, then it wasn't meant to be."

Check back with Patch later on Tuesday. We'll be hosting a live blog on the race and general election results. We will have election results after the polls close at 7 p.m.