In the midst of an ultra-competitive Democratic presidential primary, Charlotte voters flooded polling stations Saturday for the last day of early voting.
In Mecklenburg County, nearly 10 times as many voters came out for early voting than in the 2004 presidential primary. Residents waited for as long as two hours to vote at some early voting sites Saturday, and whole church congregations came out in other places.
Michael Dickerson, Mecklenburg County elections director, said he expected 30,000 to 35,000 early voters.
Nearly 43,000 showed up -- about 13 percent of all registered voters in the county.
"You don't usually get 13 percent in the (entire) primary," Dickerson said.
Both Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have urged their supporters to vote early. Not since 1988 has North Carolina held a presidential primary where the nominees weren't already decided.
"This is amazing, this is wonderful," said Jeannie Genrette, 59, while waiting at the early voting site at the University City Regional Library.
Genrette, a Charlotte newcomer, preferred, like many, to vote Saturday instead of standing in line after work on Tuesday.
"We didn't have this in Pennsylvania," said Genrette, one of 6,267 to vote in Mecklenburg County on Saturday.
Early voting in Charlotte and surrounding counties exploded this primary. Iredell County, for example, had 10 times the number of people vote early this year compared with 2004.
People stood in line at University City Regional Library for hours. Many voting places stayed open well past the 1 p.m. deadline to allow people in line to vote. Early voting started at 10 a.m. Saturday.
North Carolina is one of 23 states that offer some form of early voting. It implemented it beginning with the 2000 election.
Indiana, which also has early voting and votes on Tuesday with North Carolina, reported heavy early voting in counties that polls show heavy support for Obama. An overwhelming majority of the early voters interviewed by the Observer Saturday supported Obama.
Many people were at the polling places before they opened. At the early voting site at the Plaza Midwood library, people lined the sidewalk down the block.
The Rev. Gregory Moss Sr. encouraged his congregation at St. Paul Baptist Church in the Belmont neighborhood to vote early, something many of them were doing Saturday. Most of his congregants were backing Obama.
"Just about everybody in that line is from our church," Moss said after voting Saturday.
Moss said he met with other Charlotte pastors who decided to lead their congregations to the voting booth.
"We decided we would vote as a family," Moss said.
Moss said he would have liked for the polling places to stay open later than 1 p.m. Saturday. Many polling places had to stay open until past 2 p.m. to allow people in line to vote.
"I'm not sure they're prepared for the crowds," Moss said.
Surrounding counties were equally inundated.
"Rough," said Vickie Deese, elections administrative assistant in Union County.
Four times the number of voters showed up for early voting in Union County compared with 2004.
Voters are expected to continue their onslaught Tuesday.
Linda Grist, director of elections for Cabarrus County, said she expects a 35 percent to 40 percent turnout on Tuesday. They had 11 percent in the 2004 primary election.
Decision 2008
Huge jumps in early voting
| County | Early Voters 2004 | Early Voters 2008 | Percent Increase |
| Mecklenburg | 4,679 | 42,768 | 914% |
| Cabarrus | 670 | 3,767 | 562% |
| Union | 1,522 | 7,843 | 515% |
| Iredell | 722 | 7,335 | 1,016% |
