By Renee Worthing
Register Reporter
   On Nov. 6, Sanford and Springvale residents were seen sporting white stickers that proclaimed, “I voted today.”
   Ward 4 poll worker Bruce Goodwin was handing the stickers out after voters cast their ballots at Curtis Lake Christian Church.
   “One young woman came in to vote after she saw the sticker on someone else,” Goodwin said.
   While the ballot machines functioned properly at six of the seven polling stations, the ballot machine at Ward 7 (Knights of Columbus) went on the fritz about an hour-and-a-half into elections and refused to automatically accept the ballots.
   Deputy Warden Diane Brackett said the ballots were instead slipped into the auxiliary slot on the side of the machine where they were deposited into a locked box.
   Later that day, Warden Jackie Tranchemontagne said a new machine was delivered, but she said the same electronic counting card was used.
   She said the new machine began counting ballots where the malfunctioning machine left off and the ballots in the auxiliary box were hand-fed into the machine after the polls closed.
   Poll workers and wardens at Sanford’s seven polling districts reported a slow, but steady stream of voters throughout the morning, despite the rain. But they said they anticipated voter turnout to pick up around 4 p.m. when many of the “younger” people got out of work.
   Warden Fred Boyle said the stream of voters was steady at St. Ignatius Parish Hall.
   “We have a very dependable ward,” he said. “They tend to vote regardless of the weather. We’re very proud of them.”
   At Goodall Library, Warden Faith Ballenger said the turn out was “very good,” adding “the older generation votes in the morning.”
   “Some people only come to vote on one thing,“ she said. “It’s amazing.”
   Shirley LaBranche, voting at Ward 7, said she’s been going to the polls for the past 20 years, even though the outcome “doesn’t always go the way you want.”
   “I love to vote,” she said. “It feels good.”
   James and Ann Waters said they have  lived in Sanford for two years and were not familiar with all the candidates, but they said they were voting “they way we think things should be.”
   Early in the day, poll workers said they saw very few younger people voting, but the tide turned later in the day when younger voters began filing into the polling stations.
   Craig Burgess, 27, and his wife, Angela, said they moved from Portland to Sanford in March. Craig said he’s familiar with the council and hopes to become more involved in Sanford.
   “Craig has been encouraging me to be more involved, too,” Angela said.
   Noelle Roy brought her 12-year-old daughter Michelle to the polls with her.
   “She (Michelle) has been coming since she was little. She used to come with her meme and pepe,” she said. “I always vote and I came because I feel strongly about economic development. We need more jobs.”
   Steve and Pat Michaud described themselves as “faithful voters.”
   Walking into Curtis Lake Christian Church, David Adjutant said he didn’t come to the polls to vote on a particular issue.
   “I have believed in voting for the last 30 years and always do (vote), “ he said.
   After the machine accepted his ballot, Goodwin handed Adjutant a white sticker that read, “I voted today.”