Woonsocket's Voter Turnout Gaining On Count For 2008 Primary

UPDATE - 7:55 p.m. : As of 7 p.m., Election Clerk Henri Cyr reports the total voter turnout at 3,122 voters, or 14.92 percent. "It's low," he said.

1:35 p.m. : With the city's 11 polling spots' first check-in complete, turnout stood at 687 voters city-wide, about 3.28 percent of Woonsocket's 20,925 eligible voters, according to Election Clerk Henri Cyr.

That's almost double the same number of voters who turned out by 10 a.m. during the 2008 primary  — 354 — Cyr said. Two more check-ins will happen at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., he said.

At on Park Ave., candidates' volunteers and poll workers reported a steady, brisk stream of voters.

Matt Warner, 13, volunteering for Dist. 24 challenger Lew Pryeor, said he'd been at OLQM since 7:45 a.m. He had a bucket of carnations for voters approaching the polling place. "I've given away a lot of flowers," he said. Many of the voters have accepted them, some didn't. "But that's OK," he said.

On the sidewalk, Paul O'Friel held a sign for Stephen Casey. He was there with his brother, Paul O'Friel, and their dad, Joe Casey, who is also Stephen Casey's father.

The elder Casey reported a steady flow of voters all morning. He said many people had remarked that Stephen had taken the time to speak with them about their concerns. "I think it takes courage to face the people and that's what Stephen has done," he said.

Inside, Claudette Gravel said the turnout had been much better for this primary than the presidential primary in the spring. 

Outside , Primary Dist. 49 challenger Mike Morin stood in front with GiGi Labrecque, volunteer for Dist. 49 incumbent Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. They reported a slow morning. 

At , moderator Lisa Jabotte said that after the initial run of about 122 voters, things had gotten "kinda slow," by about 11 a.m. The traffic has been slow at the school in comparison to the presidential primary earlier this year, too. "We had a lot, we didn't stop," that time, said Holly Jabotte.