Large crowds and long lines keep Weber County poll workers busy

WEBER COUNTY, Utah — Voting locations across the state saw long lines and cold temperatures yesterday. In Weber County they moved the voting location to the Weber County Fair Grounds, to accommodate the crowds.

After wrapping around the outside of the large county fair building, the end of the line finally made it inside a little before 9 p.m.

Casey Kotter from West Haven waited almost three hours to vote. Although he’s 35, this was his first time registering and making it to the polls.

“In my opinion, there’s never been an election that’s been as important as this one,” he said.

Weber County Clerk and Auditor Ricky Hatch thinks many people were there to specifically vote for president.  They planned for a huge turnout but it became more crowded than they could have imagined and they faced a few hiccups. 

“We had to replenish the toner from one machine into another… Then get more toner from our office, have it delivered out,” Hatch said. “We [also] had to get additional paper stock and envelopes.

Hatch said they were able to get the needed supplies delivered quickly so it didn’t cause too much of an issue. They also had to call in 10 additional poll workers to open more check-in stations.

With such a big crowd, some poll workers stayed for over 14 hours.

Andy McRae began his shift at 6:30 a.m.

“I’m tired but good,” he said just before 9 p.m. “I’m ready to go home.”

Hatch says everyone was in good spirits despite the cold, snow and up long wait times.

Britt Johnson is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio.