REPORTERS' NOTEBOOK

Voters turned out in strong numbers just after the polls opened at Whittier Elementary School in north Brainerd. The polling site was averaging 100 voters an hour for the first two hours of voting. Two hundred voters recorded their ballots by 2 p.m. Tuesday. - Renee Richardson.

Say what?

The Dispatch received a phone call before 5 p.m. with a caller wondering why the school board/referendum election results weren't available online. Polls were still three hours from closing time. - Roy Miller.

Extra ballots

Jenny Holmes, Brainerd School District communications coordinator, said district officials had to take extra ballots to nearly every precinct. Holmes took ballots from Lake Edward Town Hall to Nisswa and said that others were helping take extra ballots to other precincts. - Renee Richardson.

More ballots possibly needed

Steve Dickinson, business manager and election official, had to make 950 photocopies of the ballot for five precincts including Baxter, 500 copies; Nisswa, 200 copies; Crow Wing Township, 100 copies; Daggett Brook Township, 100 copies; and Maple Grove Township, 50 copies, in the event they ran out of ballots before the polls closed. If any photocopied ballots were used, they will be counted by hand. - Jennifer Stockinger.

Shaping lives in our community

As he was waiting for election results, Steve Razidlo, Brainerd assistant superintendent, said, "I think this is a historic time for the district. Tonight helps us shape the lives of young people across our community." - Renee Richardson.

First precincts reporting in

Long Lake Township was the first precinct reporting in at 9:35 p.m. Garrison Township was the second and Oak Lawn was the third precinct reporting. - Jennifer Stockinger.

Electronic woes

St. Mathias Township's ballot machine was not working when officials first set it up. They called Crow Wing County for assistance and the problem was resolved before the polls opened so it didn't affect voting. - Jennifer Stockinger.

And they wait

Just after 8:30 p.m. about 20 people waited for election results in the board room of the Washington Educational Services Building. - Renee Richardson.