When the first voters walked through the doors at any of Minot's four polling locations this morning they were preceded by poll workers who began their day prior to 6 a.m. Ballots, scanning machines, voting booths and many other necessary items were positioned at voting locations on Monday.
Poll workers arriving early this morning were there to make sure everything was in place, doing their part to insure that Election Day will go as smoothly as possible locally.
"Election workers will help set up. That's all arranged with inspectors," said Devra Smestad, Ward County auditor. "Everybody has to be there at 6 a.m. Tuesday."
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Cindy Nelson, secretary, First Assembly of God Church, observes scanning equipment delivered to the church Monday. Nelson estimates that First Assembly of God Church can accommodate 40 active voters at a time. Should voting lines become long, the facility has ample space for voters to wait inside, out of the elements.
Monday's weather was helping to dry a parking lot that had been cleared of snow at Church of Christ, located at 1315-1st St. NE. Church of Christ is the voting location for Minot voters in the city's northeast quadrant.
Ballot boxes and scanners had been delivered to Maysa Arena prior to the noon hour Monday. Southwest Minot voters will cast their ballots at that location. Northwest Minot voters will vote at Lewis & Clark School today, a change from the June primary in which northwest Minot voters cast ballots at Calvary Alliance Church located on 20th Avenue Northwest. Lewis & Clark School is located at 2215-8th St. NW.
Extensive preparation for Election Day was evident at First Assembly of God Church early afternoon Monday at 1805-2nd St. SE. At that polling location, tables, voting booths and ballot scanners were in position to accept voters. Missing were the various instructional posters that were due to be put in position by poll workers prior to election hours.
Cindy Nelson, First Assembly of God secretary, said she had nearly 500 cookies and several pounds of coffee ready to be served to voters. The church experienced a high turnout of voters during the June primary. Nelson said she expects today's turnout to be very high as well, a consensus shared by many election watchers.
Smestad said she will be busy today, moving to voting locations as needed to insure that necessary supplies are distributed in a timely manner and that all voters are accommodated.
Polls open at 7 a.m. today and will remain open until doors are locked at 7 p.m. Ward County election results will be posted on the county website at (www.co.ward.nd). Results can be seen by clicking on the election tab on the top menu.