Voters Encounter Packed Parking Lot At East Lake Library

So many voters turned out to cast their ballots at the East Lake Library this morning, they had to park on the side of East Lake Road instead of in the library's parking lot.

This year, the library was designated as a polling location for the primary and general elections because a nearby church was no longer available. Library staff had expressed concern that the library's small parking lot might not be able to handle a large number of voters.

There did not appear to be parking problem during the primary election. However, it was a different scene around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday. Cars were parked along busy East Lake Road. Voters carried umbrellas to stay dry during the walk from East Lake Road to the library.

Maryann Hoover shielded herself from the rain with a big black and white umbrella as she walked to her car after voting. Hoover usually votes at the church, but voted for the first time at the East Lake Library.

She says it never took her more than 20 minutes when voting at the church. Tuesday, she estimated it took her 20 to 30 minutes to vote at the library, which included her wait in line.

Hoover says voting went very smoothly for her.

"I'm hoping I make a difference. Voting is very important to me," she said.

The rush of voters subsided around 8:45 a.m., and most of the cars parked along East Lake Road were gone.