Mobile County polling places bustling with voters

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile probate court officials tell FOX10 News turnout was high around the county.

A poll official from Precinct 50, at the Mobile Museum of Art, said around 200 people were waiting in line to vote when doors opened at 7 a.m. They said by lunchtime more than 2,200 people voted. The official said that would be on pace for a 50 percent turnout for the precinct.

Photos: Election 2012 - In line to vote

Probate Judge Don Davis said he doesn't have exact figures and there have been no irregularities. He did, however, point out an inconvenience.

"I'm in constant contact with the election center. I'm not aware of any problems, except we're having a run on ink pens, and that's our big hot item, trying to get more pens to all the different precincts, or most of the precincts," he said.

Another precinct that saw a huge influx of voters right as the polls opened was the Mobile Regional Senior Community Center on Hillcrest Road. It was still bustling at lunchtime. FOX10 wanted to know how long voters had been waiting in line to cast their ballots.

"About five or six minutes... I really was thinking I'd be here for at least 20 or 30 minutes," said one voter.

"I got my ballot and marked it, and I was through. I didn't really have to stand in line at all," said another.

"Three minutes," yet another told us. "But I came this morning and the line was out to the street, so I came back."

Probate court officials said the Toulminville Branch Library also saw heavy turnout. When FOX10 checked to see how many people had voted by lunchtime, we were told 1,486.

Every polling place we talked to said they expect to see a larger crowd as the late afternoon progresses.