Today is Election Day; get out and vote
Sussex County voting is up about 20 percent and even higher in the beach area as voters head to the polls Nov. 6 for the mid-term elections.
Sussex County Department of Elections Director Ken McDowell said in the resort areas, voting is about 30 percent higher than average.
“I heard there were some lines 100 yards long in the beach area,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest in this election.”
A steady flow of voters headed into Cape High at noon as Gov. John Carney greeted people outside. Joining him throughout the afternoon were Democratic candidates Dave Baker, running in the state Senate District 6 race and U.S. Sen Tom Carper.
The threat of bad weather may have been a factor in bringing out a crowd, McDowell said.
“I think the impending rain coming in caused a lot to come out early,” he said.
Despite the large numbers, McDowell said everything was running smoothly. A few locations ran out of courtesy cards handed out after a voter signs in, but that would have no bearing on the election, he said. Voting booths at each location are all the same, so that no one would have a ballot that showed candidates outside their voting district, he said.
“In the general election, you don’t really need the cards. It’s just a courtesy we do just in case there is a challenge,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Cape Region’s statewide candidate – Kathy McGuiness, Democratic candidate for state auditor – voted early at the Rehoboth Beach Fire Co. Also out and about early was Ken Simpler, a Rehoboth Beach native and the Republican incumbent for state treasurer, who voted at Rehoboth Elementary School with his father. Polls across the state opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Cape Region races include:
- Senate District 6 – Republican incumbent Ernie Lopez against Democratic challenger Dave Baker
- House District 14 – Democratic incumbent Pete Schwartzkopf against Republican challenger James DeMartino
- House District 20 – Republican incumbent Steve Smyk against Democratic challenger John Bucchioni and Libertarian Party challenger Harry Smouse
- County Council District 4 – Republican Douglas Hudson against Democrat Paulette Rappa
- County Council District 5 – Democrat Ellen Magee against Republic John Rieley
Remaining Sussex County race include:
- Senate District 18 – Democrat James Purcell against Republican David Wilson
- Senate District 21 – Republican incumbent Bryant Richardson against Democratic challenger Robert Wheatley
- House District 36 – Democrat Donald Allan against Republican Bryan Shupe
- House District 38 – Republican incumbent Ronald Gray against Democratic challenger Meghan Kelly
- House District 41 – Republican incumbent Richard Collins against Democratic challenger Bradley Cooper
Cape Region polling places include:
- Lewes Fire Hall, 347 Savannah Rd., Lewes
- Cape Henlopen High School, 1250 Kings Hwy., Lewes
- Rehoboth Fire Hall, 219 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth
- Beacon Middle School, 19483 John J. Williams Hwy., Lewes
- Lewes-Rehoboth Fire Station No. 3, 21194 John J. Williams Hwy., Lewes
- Rehoboth Fire Co., Station 2, 36027 Airport Rd., Rehoboth
- Rehoboth Elementary School, 500 Stockley St., Rehoboth
- Milton Elementary School, 512 Federal St., Milton
- Mariner Middle School, 16391 Harbeson Rd., Milton
- H.O. Brittingham School, 400 Mulberry St., Milton
- Cool Spring Presbyterian Church Hall, 28842 Log Cabin Rd., Lewes
- Shields Elementary School, 910 Shields Ave., Lewes
- Lewes School, 820 Savannah Rd., Lewes
- Harbeson Church Hall, 18636 Harbeson Rd., Harbeson
- Milton Fire Hall, 116 Front St., Milton
There have been a number of Sussex County races already decided because there’s only one candidate:
- House District 35 – Republican Jesse Vanderwende
- House District 37 – Republican Ruth Briggs King
- House District 39 – Republican Daniel Short
- House District 40 – Republican Timothy Dukes
- Register of Wills – Republican Cynthia Green
- Recorder of Deeds – Republican Scott Dailey
- Sheriff – Republican Robert Lee
Check back at capegazette.com for updates throughout Election Day.
