Election Turnout: 314 Votes Shy Of HdG Record

UPDATED (9:50 p.m.): Despite a record number of registered residents, some polarizing choices and a grassroots effort to drive up voter turnout, Havre de Grace fell short of a record voter turnout on Tuesday. 

The election closed with 1,584 ballots cast—314 votes shy of the prior record, set in 2007.

In that election, Wayne Dougherty won his first full term as mayor. Tuesday, Dougherty claimed his fourth term, defeating Jim Miller mayor. Three other familiar names were voted into office, and two ballot questions passed easily.

Read the full results here.

As far as where the 2013 election stacks up: the gross number tops last year's non-mayoral election, but ranks as the lowest turnout during a mayoral election since 2009, when Dougherty ran un-opposed.

The recorded history of recent voting is included in a chart below.

Keep in mind: the numbers aren't official until absentee ballots are counted.

4:16 p.m.: One thousand citizens had voted as of 4 p.m. in Havre de Grace.

According to the Harford County Board of Elections, 9,008 citizens in Havre de Grace have registered to vote.

The voting continues until 8 p.m., when polls at St. Patrick Hall (600 Pennington Ave.) will close for the council and mayoral election. A ballot question is also luring voters to weigh in on whether the city should purchase a waterfront property. There is a second question about whether Havre de Grace should refinance its bonds.

Turnout has been steady since the polls opened at 7 a.m. when there was a line of approximately ten people, according to citizens who have been there from the beginning.

Some feared the rain would keep voters from showing up.

Mayoral candidates Wayne Dougherty and Jim Miller had tents set up where citizens could take cover to chat outside the polls, in addition to council candidates Tom Barnes, Randy Craig and Fred Cullum.

Council candidates John Correri and Bob Greene were the only ones who didn't have tents on Pennington Avenue.