Third try's a charm for voting vet

Red Willow County poll worker Carmen Goodwin helps Staff Sgt. Cameron Araujo start the paperwork to cast a provisional ballot after moving from one address to another within McCook -- and changing polling places -- after he initially registered to vote. County clerk Tami Teel said that Staff Sgt. Araujo's provisional ballot, along with other provisional ballots, will be counted Wednesday by the canvassing board. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Election officials in Red Willow County mid-morning today reported "a very good turnout" of voters at polling places, even early in the morning.

Poll workers reported they were busy, with waiting lines at some polling places, like the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Office in McCook.

County clerk and election commissioner Tami Teel said they also had a good turnout of early voters -- who cast 1,029 votes -- either by mail or in the courthouse. The previous record was 897, she said.

One voter was determined this morning to cast his ballot. Staff Sgt. Cameron Araujo told poll worker Carmen Goodwin at the Bureau that he had tried to vote at Grace Baptist Church, only to be sent to McCook Christian Church, whose workers sent him to the Bureau. He told Carmen, "Ma'am, I just want to vote."

Because Staff Sgt. Araujo had moved from one McCook address to another just over the weekend, Carmen started him on the paperwork to fill out a new voter registration form with his new address and to cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots will be counted Wednesday by the county's canvassing board, Teel said.

Staff Sgt. Araujo said he's lived in McCook for just 2 1/2 months, having moved here from Grand Island. He's originally from Lexington, he said. He's been in the U.S. Army for nine years, and is a recruiter for the Nebraska Army National Guard, stationed in McCook.

He and his wife, Camrie (Gregg), a teacher at McCook Elementary, have been married a month today.