Early Morning Efforts Are Busy and Quiet

At 6:30 a.m., there were a dozen or so people in line at Elliott Elementary School. By half an hour later, there were more than 150. The wait was about 30 minutes as people stretched into the wide open field of the school.

There was a family of five, all on bicycles, waiting, people with their dogs, and others texting friends and reading books and newspapers.

At polling places throughout Northeast and Southeast in the early morning hours, what was noticeable was how quiet the lines were. Everybody going about their business, unlike the frenzy of primaries when lots of candidates and supporters jockeying for positions.

Supporters of Carol Schwartz, were the only ones passing out literature at three of the polls.

One of those voting at Elliott in Northeast was Eddie Ellis, 32, who spent nearly half his life in prison for murder. Released more than a year ago, Ellis marveled at the process. He messed up his first ballot and had to request a new one. But he got it done.

"This is big," he said. "My first vote for president is for a black man."

Robert Pierre