[Mpls] turnout

[Chris Johnson]

Jordan S. Kushner wrote:
> For a suburan perspective, I voted in the northwest corner of Golden 
> Valley. Arrived at the polling place at 7:10, and got out at 7:45.  I 
> was the 225th person to vote in the precinct.
> 
> In 2000, I lived in a Minneapolis precinct including parts of Powderhorn 
> and Central Neighborhoods.  The polling place was located at Park Ave 
> and 32nd street.  At about 8:30 am, I was the 58th person to vote in 
> that precinct (in 2000).
> 
> Inner-city turnout is definitely one of the keys to today's result.  Any 
> reports on turnout from central city precincts?

Ward 13, Precinct 5.  We arrived at 8:59am to a very long line.  The line was
much shorter by the time we left at about 9:50am -- about a 50 minute wait.

The machine said 714 when I put my ballot in, but that seems like a rather low
number for the polls having been open nearly 2 hours and for the huge turn-out
that we saw there.  The turn-out was large in 2000, but this was much larger.


As I left I saw a man with a MoveOn PAC sign in the church parking lot.  I
told him he had to be at least 100 feet away from the polling place.  A
discussion of disagreement ensued.  Then an election judge from downtown
showed up and told him he had to move.  An argument ensued.  I departed,
leaving it to the two of them.

However, my gut tells me this guy with the sign was not a member of MoveOn,
but rather a Republican trying to smear MoveOn's name.  It would make no sense
for MoveOn to have a sign with only their name on it and place it in a
location that would be sure to draw controversy and criticism -- particularly
at an election where people are hyper-aware of election laws, in a
neighborhood where the vast majority of voters are Democrats anyway.

I smell a rat.  There is an outside chance the man was just a loose cannon.
I've contacted MoveOn PAC's national offices to get their reaction and will
post anything I learn.


Chris Johnson
Fulton