Politics & Government

Mild Turnout at Annandale Precincts in Primaries Tuesday

Most precincts were reporting near 3 percent voter turnout by noon on Tuesday.

Annandale residents braved the rain and took to the polls on Tuesday to vote in Republican primaries for the Virginia U.S. Senate race, the 11th congressional district and a Democratic primary for the 8th congressional district.

Polls opened at 6 a.m., but throughout the morning and afternoon, turnout at most precincts was still mild with voter turnout under 3 percent.

Precinct 104 Chapel at the Nancy F. Sprague Technology Center was at about 2.1 percent voter turnout or 46 voters out of 2,182 around 10 a.m. Precinct 519 Hummer at Fred Packard Center was only at 0.6 percent or 11 out of 1,705 active voters by mid-morning. Around 2.7 percent of voters, or 55 of 2,029 active registered voters, were accounted for at Precinct 521 Brook Hill at at 10 a.m. Precinct 522 Camelot at was close behind around the same time, showing 2.3 percent, or 33 out of 1,410 active registred voters.

Find out what's happening in Annandalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

By noon, precinct 113 Canterbury at saw 137 voters out of 4,331 active voters.

"We usually get a pretty good turnout here," said Precinct Captain Robert Marshall of the precinct's high number.

Find out what's happening in Annandalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As of 12:15 p.m., Precinct 507 Lincolnia was at 3 percent voter turnout and precinct 523 Poe at saw a total of 83 voters just after 12:30 p.m. By 1 p.m., precinct 106 Heritage at had seen 41 out of its 4,000 active registered voters.

Republican Primary - Eleventh Congressional District

Chris S. Perkins arrived at Orange Hunt Elementary School in Springfield at 7 a.m. this morning, after voting in his home precinct in Lorton. Perkins is running in the Republican Party Primary in the 11th congressional district against . The winner of the primary will face Democratic Congressman Gerald Connolly in November. Independent Mark Gibson is also running in the 11th District. He is required to gather 1,000 signatures by Tuesday to get onto the November ballot.

Eighth Congressional District

U.S. Rep. (D-8th) voted at 6 a.m. at the Arlington County Division of Parks and Natural Resources in Shirlington. He was accompanied by his son Patrick.

"I always worry and it keeps me energized," Moran said when asked if he was nervous going into the primary. "I'm never complacent about anything, and for something that's worth it like this it is worth working hard for and not being taken for granted."

Just past 6 a.m., was one of the first voters to cast a ballot in the Democratic primary at the Madison Community Center precinct in North Arlington on Tuesday. Shuttleworth, an Arlington resident, is running against Moran, in today's Democratic primary. He said he is ready for a general election campaign. 

"We'd be completely energized for that," Shuttleworth said. "I'm up for that challenge."

Shuttleworth, with his wife Divonne, will campaign in Alexandria and Arlington today.

Senate Republican Party Primary

Former senator and Gov.  and wife  greeted voters Tuesday morning at Washington Mill Elementary School, a precinct near their home in Mount Vernon.

Allen stopped to chat with Patch: “Well, our goal obviously is to win and the bigger the turnout the better," he said. "I think most people recognize that the larger the turnout the stronger it’ll be for us. We have a lot of support through Virginia because people know me.

"I had the honor of serving Virginians in the U.S. Senate, as well as governor, and I know the communities and the people, and that’s not something that’s easily done just in a year of campaigning," Allen said. "We have good friendships and relationships throughout Virginia, so the bigger the turnout, the better it’ll be for us. We’re cautiously optimistic.”

Allen faces competition in today's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate from three challengers: tea party member , minister  and state Del.  of Prince William County. 

The Allens voted at their precinct and plan to visit other precincts around Northern Virginia today before heading to a rally in Richmond tonight to await results of the primary.

The winner will face Democrat Tim Kaine, also a former governor of Virginia. The Senate seat is currently occupied by Sen. Jim Webb, who announced his retirement last year from the Senate.

Patch editors James Cullum, Jessie Biele, Mary Ann Barton, and Susan Larson contributed to this story.


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