Big crowds for special election early voting

WKRN Channel 2 News Posted: Jan 17, 2009 05:03 PM CST Updated: Jan 18, 2009 12:01 AM CST Despite the cold weather, lines stretched out the doors at the election commission Saturday morning, as voters waited to cast their ballot for the special election. By this time next week, Davidson County voters will have decided if English should be the official language of Metro government. Voter Caroline Dubois says she couldn't believe how many people showed up, "We were shocked, it was the biggest line I've seen." At times, that line was out the door and all the way out to the curb. Allison Schachter says the issues on the ballot were important enough to stand in line for, "I was upset by the ballot initiative and I wanted to vote against it and I wanted to vote early." Even those who turned out early had to wait patiently for their turn at the voting machines. The election commission says they already had people lined up forty-five minutes before the doors opened. "I think it's really exciting to see so many people out here who care," Schachter tells News 2, "Whatever their opinion is." James Johnson voted for the English First proposal, and tells News 2, "To me, it doesn't make sense. If a person wants to come to this country and participate in the political things of this country, they ought to speak the country's language." Kevin Millen voted against the amendment, "I think it's not very smart thing for us to be doing. A waste of time, not good for our image and unnecessary." Election officials expect voting on the day of the January 22nd special election to be just as busy.