Voters across Nebraska waited in long lines

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10478363

Published Wednesday November 5, 2008
Voters across Nebraska waited in long lines
BY PAUL HAMMEL
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The lure of a historic presidential election prompted heavy voter turnout Tuesday across Nebraska, including long lines that stretched outside many polling places.

"This is the strongest voter turnout I can ever remember in this town," said poll worker Sheila Beck at the city building in Clarks, Neb., about 30 miles southwest of Columbus.

"There is a passion that hasn't been here in elections before," said Beck. "People are fired up to vote, whichever way they're voting."

Excitement was perhaps highest in northeast Omaha, the center of the black community in the state's largest city.

"You almost want to scream and shout, but you've just got to maintain," said Annette Evans, 41, a first-time voter who said she stood in line 45 minutes to vote at Evans Tower in north Omaha.


Voters wait their turn outside the Urban League of Nebraska Family Resource Center near 30th and Lake Streets this morning. At one point, 75 people were in line.

Her fiance, 34-year-old Kenneth Holloway, was equally enthusiastic over the opportunity to vote for Barack Obama, the first African-American to head a major party ticket.

"It's just a great moment in history," said Holloway, who, like Evans, is black. "Many people thought that they would never see this in their lifetime."

FULL story at link.