Spring Break
The voters have spoken
Reactions and thoughts as Election 2008 comes to a close
Erin Bowen
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: Features
Finally, the wait is over for the city of Oxford and surrounding community. Tuesday's general election ended months-if not years-of campaigning and debate over federal, state and local issues. With eyes glued to televisions, the nation watched as Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was elected the 44th President of the United States.
On a local level, however, Oxford residents voted and waited for the results on issues close to their hearts.
According to Mayor Prue Dana, the city of Oxford experienced an increase in voter turnout.
"The turnout was absolutely over the top," Dana said. "We saw (an increase in) voters for the 2000 and 2004 general elections, but they weren't anything like this."
While exact numbers for turnout in Oxford's precincts are not yet available, Dana, who served as a poll worker at the Oxford Community Arts Center for precinct 7, said she predicts the final numbers will be high.
"Last spring in the primaries, some precincts had as little as 30 voters," Dana said. "This time, each (precinct) was in the hundreds."
Dana said a large reason for the increased voter turnout was the participation of Miami University students.
"Students aren't known for getting up early," Dana said, "but the most astounding thing was that there were lines of both students and residents starting at 6:30 a.m."
Dana said the crowds at most precincts tapered off into the afternoon yet sustained a steady stream of voters.
"We expected more students to participate but had no idea just how many would," Dana said.
While young voters like juniors Jorie Ganser and Cory Bailey and sophomore Colin Ackerman played a large role in the election, all three said they were relieved the election is over.
Ackerman, a mass communication and film studies major from Maryland, said he is happy to see the end of campaigning.
"I'm really happy it's over," Ackerman said. "Those campaign ads from both sides were really starting to irritate me."
On a local level, however, Oxford residents voted and waited for the results on issues close to their hearts.
According to Mayor Prue Dana, the city of Oxford experienced an increase in voter turnout.
"The turnout was absolutely over the top," Dana said. "We saw (an increase in) voters for the 2000 and 2004 general elections, but they weren't anything like this."
While exact numbers for turnout in Oxford's precincts are not yet available, Dana, who served as a poll worker at the Oxford Community Arts Center for precinct 7, said she predicts the final numbers will be high.
"Last spring in the primaries, some precincts had as little as 30 voters," Dana said. "This time, each (precinct) was in the hundreds."
Dana said a large reason for the increased voter turnout was the participation of Miami University students.
"Students aren't known for getting up early," Dana said, "but the most astounding thing was that there were lines of both students and residents starting at 6:30 a.m."
Dana said the crowds at most precincts tapered off into the afternoon yet sustained a steady stream of voters.
"We expected more students to participate but had no idea just how many would," Dana said.
While young voters like juniors Jorie Ganser and Cory Bailey and sophomore Colin Ackerman played a large role in the election, all three said they were relieved the election is over.
Ackerman, a mass communication and film studies major from Maryland, said he is happy to see the end of campaigning.
"I'm really happy it's over," Ackerman said. "Those campaign ads from both sides were really starting to irritate me."
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