Slight Uptick in Voters After 5 p.m., Turn Out Still Low

The for voters in the special election for the At-Large member of the District Council continued into that afternoon, with a slight uptick beginning at 5 p.m.

Precinct 5 saw a steady increase from 5 p.m. when the total count was 275 and 6:30 p.m. when the count was 331. Still the 6:30 count put Georgetown's East Village turnout rate at 8.3% of its 3,977* registered voters.

Precinct 6 had 256 votes cast as of 6 p.m. and 304 by 7 p.m., putting the West Village at 5.5% turn out among its 5,532* registered voters.

Voters had varying allegiances. One D.C. government employee, who asked not to be named, said he decided officially over the weekend to vote for Bryan Weaver. Weaver is "not part of the D.C. establishment" unlike candidates like Sekou Biddle and Vincent Orange he said.

On the other side of the spectrum, Jonathan Sears said he is a registered Republican and he voted for the Republican candidate, Patrick Mara. Sears said he votes for the person who most represents his political leanings, whether or not they have a chance at winning, "to express my right as an American."

Polls close at 8 p.m. and precinct results should be up by 9 p.m. The DC Board of Elections and Ethics estimates that most results from precincts city-wide will be released before midnight tonight.

However, in the case of a very close race, the final victor may be unclear until mail ballots, provisional ballots and curbside ballots are counted—in 10 days.

 *Registered voters as of March 1, 2011 according to the Board of Elections and Ethics.