Windham Flirts With Record Election Turnout

Since Tessa Murphy moved to the United States from the Phillipines at the age of 24, she has always cast her ballot for the Republican ticket.

She started by helping to elect George H. W. Bush into office.

For Murphy, her values have always been in line with the GOP agenda.

"I hope to be a part of keeping this to be a great country," she said of casting her ballot, reminiscing about tougher times in her home country, where families of four would have their election votes bought off and poverty was rampent.

Her 24-year-old daughter voted for President Obama last election cycle, but she said she is trying to persuade her to support the Republican ticket.

Murphy stood outside Windham High School hoping to put some volunteer work in among the gaggle of campaign signs  and candidates greeting voters as they cast their ballots today.

Those ballots have been submitted in massive numbers – 4,236 total as of 2 p.m.

Town Moderator Peter Griffin said that the number of tables have been expanded to accomodate the turnout, which is over 50 percent of those registered in town.

He added that there have been no problems with the implementation of the voter ID law, and very few people have requested to complete a challenge affadavit.

Griffin said that a representative from the Attorney General's office also came to take a look at the voting center, and they were very pleased with the layout.

The process of counting absentee ballots – over 900 in all – was started at 1 p.m. The 4,236 does not include those 900-plus votes.

Helping to volunteer inside was Samantha Letizio, daughter of Windham businessman Al Letizio Jr. Like her father, Samantha supports the Romney-Ryan ticket.

For Samantha, her top issue this election cycle has been the budget and the deficit. She said that she knows a lot of college students out of work right now.

"I've got to fight for myself (and) fight for my peers," she said.

Plenty advocates for Obama and other members of the Democratic ticket were keeping warm in the chilly conditions outside.

Mike Specian, a firefighter in Winham, said that his career influence makes him support Obama, but other influences include where he aligned on issues such as foreign policy, education, environment and healthcare.

Sepcian shook President Obama's hand when he came to Windham in August, and his wife had the chance to do the introduction for those squeezed into the steamy WHS gymnasium.

Specian has spent 12 months canvassing for Obama, and his 16-year-old son has been actively engaged in drawing in youth voters.

Cathy Souter was frustrated with Obama campaign signs disappearing around town, including 18 that she put up herself.

She said the town should put a ban on signs being placed on public property.

Souter, like Brenda McDonald and Sue Bucciero, two Democratic cohorts whom she stood with, considers the social issues a priority.

She said that she didn't realize some of the radical Republican opinions until she saw Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jackie Cilley speak.

All three said that they do not show up to the polls planning on voting the party straight down, but rather take each candidate individually.

Stopping to chat with some of those picketing outside was Tracy Prue, who doesn't share her political leanings but said that her 5-year-old was the most concerned with making sure she gets to the polls to vote on time.

Incumbent state representative candidates Walter Kolodziej and Charles McMahon were thrilled with the turnout. Both were at WHS at 6:30 a.m. and plan on staying for the day.

McMahon said that the commitment at the polls for both him and his fellow representatives is to let voters know they are there if residents need them.

He said the message he has for voters is that he can provide "leadership with vision."

"It's a vision of preparing for the future," he said.

Kolodziej stressed that almost all of those who have come to vote have their minds made up.

"Nobody has come down the path here that isn't on a mission," he said.

Polls will close at 8 p.m. in Windham. We will have live results on Windham Patch as they come in.