Aberdeen residents went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether the city should annex 523 acres for development around the Wetlands Golf Course.
Two separate votes ? one for city residents and one for residents of the area to be annexed ? will decide the fate of the project, and turnout at both polling places was higher than expected.
By 2 p.m., 1,025 people had cast their ballots at the Aberdeen Senior Center, out of approximately 7,800 registered voters in the city. Midday turnout was above 50 percent at the camper-turned-voting booth parked at the end of Locksley Manor Drive ? though that was out of only 49 registered voters in the area to be annexed, Board of Elections Member Kim Atkins said.
Several officials, including Wetlands owner Sam Smedley, observed that the number of people voting exceeded their expectations.
“The turnout sounds very encouraging, though I don?t know what it means in terms of voting for or against the annexation,” said former county executive candidate Ann Helton, who came to support the anti-annexation camp.
Voters leaving the polls repeated arguments from both sides of the annexation argument that has carried on since the summer: more tax revenue and city influence over encroaching development versus strained schools and roads in an already-stressed city.
“I voted for it because I think Aberdeen should have some control of what?s being built,” said Ginny Shankle, an Aberdeen crossing guard. “They?re going to develop it no matter what.”
“I have kids who go to school, and they?re not saying anything about building new schools for these people who will move in here,” said Andrea Farrow, who voted against the annexation.
Enough people stated opinions for or against annexation that no obvious victor seemed to be emerging.
Polls were open until 7 p.m. Tuesday, with electronic balloting downtown and simple paper ballots and a lockbox in the camper in Locksley Manor. Results were not available as of press time.
