Primary Day Coverage

This post will be updated throughout the day with time stamps. If people have information from the outlying areas in Cheyenne County, please call me at 540-354-7636 with your report. Reports will be listed by time. It is vitally important to get every registered voter out to the fairgrounds for those living in Sidney. If you someone who needs assistance to get to the fairgrounds, please help them get their voices heard.

======News from Election Day=====
7:15 AM Light turnout at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds, home to five of the ten voting precincts. Election officials indicate that early voting was up significantly and that party change registrations as well as first-time voter registrations are very high. Election officials are cautiously optimistic that turnout will be higher than normal this year and encourage all to vote. Next big push, Lunch time.

11:32 AM: Traffic has been light but steady at the fairgrounds so, as lunch approaches, more and more of the precinct voting stations are beginning to fill up.

12:07 PM: Traffic flow is beginning to increase. One voter complained to election officials about the inability to vote for certain party-affiliated races because he was an independent. The election official explained to the voter that primary race ballots are split by party affiliation but that all offices are on the general election ballot in the fall.

Jon Boothe, commented that there wasn't much to vote for if you weren't a registered Republican, an observation at the strongly conservative leanings Cheyenne County traditionally exhibits.

12:40 PM while preparing an update, was approached by a poll worker who instructed me to refrain from using the web function on my phone. Polling place directives preclude the use of cell phones, but no directive exists for text messaging, or web functions. Additional information was provided by asst. County Clerk who explained that cell phone calls were restricted to prevent disruption to voters, but that web access or texting was permissible.

On the vote front, turnout continues to be light but steady. Of the 24+ ballot stations in use, I have yet to see more than half filled at one time. People may be waiting till after 5:00 PM.

4:24 PM: Things are picking up at the fairgrounds now. There were nearly 20 people casting their vote as this was being written.

4:49 PM: The excuses are flowing now. Two junior poll workers, whose job it is to assist voters as tithe correct precinct to vote in have a friendly challenge going. The contest between them is to see who can find the location the fastest. From the accounts of the two, supervised by an adult poll worker, Miss Sarah has the lead over Mr. Sam presently with a little more than two hours to go.

5:04 PM: news flash. With a little less than two hours remaining, approximatly 22% of those eligible to vote in the five Sidney precincts have exercised their right to vote.

On a side note, Cathy Wilson approached me about a previous post while writing this update. Despite my instruction to her that the polling place was not appropriate for her choice of conversation, she persisted, a fact which was noted by others present.

5:26 PM: The number of people who have come in the last 20 minutes is approximately double the number from the previous hour.

5:59 PM The push seems to have subsided, many people wearing the characteristic green lanyard have made their way into the voting area. It looks like the turnout will be reflected in the statements, including my assessments at around 25-28% or registered voters. The next update will be the initial vote tally's from the courthouse. There is still an hour to go. If you know someone who is eligible to vote, or is unsure if they are registered, get them down to the voting stations to see what needs to be done. Every vote counts this year, especially!




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Here are the unofficial results (scheduled to be released around 7:30 PM this evening) contested positions only will be covered. Final, unofficial results will be posted for all office seekers as they are made available to the media.
http://www.co.cheyenne.ne.us/2010PrimaryResults.htm


@@@@@ 9 of 9 precincts reporting@@@@@

Amendment One...
Allows municipal governments the ability to purchase land for the benefit of nonprofit entities...
971 for
995 against
Cheyenne County Clerk, 4 year term
Sarah J. Deaver 491
Beth E. Fiegenschuh, incumbent 1145

Cheyenne County Clerk of the District Court, 4 year term
Debra A. Hume 960
Deanna Volkmer, incumbent, appointed 667

Cheyenne County Sheriff, 4 year term
Patrick J. Jenks 202
John D. Jenson 1409

Sidney City Council, 4 year term (3 positions)
Marvin Filsinger, incumbent 602
Roger M. Gallaway 308
Wendall F. Gaston, incumbent 804
Tim Hackleman 214
Tracy Hruza 161
Zane E. Hall 253
Jimmie Hansel – withdrawn from ballot 56
Dalan Hiett, incumbent 542
Tamara Nelsen 237
Mark Nienhueser 674

Sidney School Board, 4 year term
Randy Flamig, incumbent
Brian Fort
Brett Lococo
Thomas Von Seggern, incumbent
Jeffrey R. Wernsman, incumbent

Potter School Board, 4 year term
Valerie Ball
Chris Bogert
Kimberly Gotfrey
Brad Hicks
Mike Rotert