Frustrated Democrats Trickle Into D.C. Voting Booths

[Rose Siding]

* Question from me- is Debbi Wilgoren related to the NYT staff writer JODY Wilgoren?

Frustrated Democrats Trickle Into D.C. Voting Booths

By Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 13, 2004; 1:25 PM


D.C. Democrats trickled to the polls this morning to vote in the city's first-ever January presidential primary. Many interviewed said they were frustrated that the vote is primarily symbolic and that most major candidates had opted not to be on the ballot -- but they were voting nevertheless, because they considered it a civic duty.

"Not voting at all was not an option for me," said Cindy Howar, 51, a resident of Hillendale who had just cast her ballot at Hardy Middle School in Burleith. Howar said had wanted to write in the name of the candidate she supports, but was told by precinct workers that she could not. "They've really complicated this for people who want to do the right thing."

Retired federal employee Carolyn E. Jeeter, 68, said she felt compelled to stop at her polling station, at the Anacostia public library branch on Good Hope Road SE, even through her first choice for the Democratic nomination was not on the ballot.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13061-2004Jan13.html

[kerry-is-my-prez]

1. Wonder who the candidate was that they wanted to vote for was....

I know not all the candidates are on all of the ballots in DC...

[renegade000]

2. only dean, kucinich, mosley-braun, and sharpton

were on the ballot

[zorkpolitics]

3. Not much interest but looks like Dean wins

only about 20,000 people bothered to vote, about 5% of the eligible voters in DC.
With 68% counted Dean leads Sharpton:
Candidates Votes %
Howard Dean 7,586 42
Al Sharpton 6,254 35
Carol Moseley Braun 2,092 12
Dennis J. Kucinich 1,465 8