Reminder: It's election day (like you forgot)

It's Tuesday, May 6 -- primary election day here in North Carolina. And few primaries could be expected to draw this much awareness or interest. But here we are, with the Clinton-Obama race at the top of the ticket, and a range of important state and local elections to follow.

Polls are open today from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. (Find your precinct online.)

For the key local races -- Board of County Commissioners, District Attorney, and school board -- here are the candidates with links to their H-S and N&O profiles and their endorsements (where available -- I couldn't find all the H-S links on their web site). The Indy's profiles and endorsements are posted on their website.

Code: DCABP (Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People), Friends (Friends of Durham), PA (People's Alliance.) Note that these elections are in the Democratic primary: you can only vote if you're a registered Democrat or an unaffiliated (independent) voter.

Board of County Commissioners

• Joe Bowser: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: DCABP
• Fred Foster, Jr: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: DCABP
• Becky Heron: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: H-S, Friends, PA, Indy Weekly
• Brenda Howerton: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: PA, Indy Weekly
• Don Moffitt: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: H-S, Friends, PA, Indy Weekly
• Michael Page: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: H-S, DCAPB, Friends, PA, Indy Weekly
• Josh Parker: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: H-S, Friends
• Victoria Peterson: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: None
• Ellen Reckhow: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: H-S, Friends, PA, Indy Weekly
• Doug Wright: H-S, N&O profiles. Endorsements: None

District Attorney

• Keith Bishop: N&O profile. Endorsements: None
• Freda Black: N&O profile. Endorsements: Friends
• Tracey Cline: N&O profile. Endorsements: H-S, DCABP, PA, Indy Weekly
• Mitchell Garrell: N&O profile. Endorsements None

School Board (only the contested race is listed)

• Leigh Bordley: N&O profile. Endorsements: H-S, Indy Weekly, Friends, PA, Indy Weekly
• Nancy Cox: N&O profile. Endorsements: None
• Jonathan Alston: N&O profile. Endorsements: DCABP

We'll have our usual election night coverage here, including breaking news on results and post-election analysis.

Comments

[David McMullen]

From what I've seen, the turnout looks to be fairly high, as expected. In my precinct, I was voter #240 at 10:00 AM. I didn't have to wait long in line to vote, but in the past I haven't had to wait at all if I voted midmorning. There have been times when I was the only one in the room except for the poll workers. Not today; there were maybe 20 other people voting or waiting to vote when I left. I don't even want to predict how long the lines will be after 5:00.

[Masshole]

I voted this morning at 7:40 and it appeared no different from usual at my polling place. One person in line in front of me and I would guess 3-5 voting in the room. Poll workers were expecting huge crowds later, but it hadnt happened in the early AM.

[Elizabeth T.]

I voted at 1:15 or so and was the 945th person to do so at my precinct. Usually when I vote (at more or less the same time), I'm #100 or so.

[Derek]

Voter #734 at 2:43p at McMannen UMC (precinct 50 in W Durham). Seemed high to me, and it was fairly busy inside. They were ready for the masses with tons of workers and about 10 booths. I've moved since the last election so I don't know how turnout in this precinct compares to my last one (precinct 13, Holy Infant in S Durham). They certainly didn't have as many workers or booths at my old precinct.

[ellend]

I voted about 2 at Brogden - number 228. Not particularly high and that is about the time of day I usually vote. Only one other person voting while I was there.

[Barry]

Precinct 19 was up a little over 700 when i left shortly before 5, and the the post work crowd was starting to arrive. There were a little over 300 early voters from 19 as well.

There are 2500 or so registered voters in 19, 1850 or so Dems, 450 indies, and 225 or so Republicans. Virtually everyone i spoke with outside the polling place was a Democrat, so Democratic Party turnout is going to end up somewhere around 65% or higher, i think.

don't forget, in addition to Kevin's liveblogging, Ginny is going to be liveblogging results:
http://www.mync.com/

as will i:
http://dependableerection.blogspot.com

thanks everyone for voting!

[Jeff Abbott]

I voted at Forest View Elementary (Precinct 43) at around 5:30P or so, and I was number 1905. One of the canvassers asked me what number I was and seemed disappointed when I told him.