Video: VB and Ches registrars discuss turnout

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Surges of unprecedented voter turnout. That is what Chesapeake Registrar Al Spradlin says contributed to the upward of five hour wait some voters in the city experienced Tuesday.

Spradlin was forthcoming with WAVY.com about the long lines. He explained that there are at least 150 electronic poll books total for Chesapeake. There are more than 150,000 voters. Those numbers are divided by 64 precincts. Each precinct gets at least one electronic poll book. The larger precincts start with two.

Spradlin says some of the largest precincts, including Clarence Cuffee and Greenbrier Middle School each ended up with seven poll books by the end of the day Tuesday. He says they have never needed to have more than four in previous elections.

Photos:  Election Day 2012 in Hampton Roads

Poll workers normally anticipate three surges: morning, lunch and dinner.

Spradlin said this year's surges were unusual and unprecedented and it took time for poll workers to catch up to the demand.

In addition to poll books, Spradlin also added more poll workers and put some of his experts on the poll books into the precincts.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. in Virginia. More than an hour later, workers were still working to move everyone through the line.

Spradlin predicts Chesapeake could end up with probably 90 percent voter turnout.

WAVY News 10's Katie Collett also spoke to Virginia Beach Registrar Donna Patterson. She could not provide a particular reason for the excessive wait times in Virginia Beach.

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