Photo Galleries

A voter is silhouetted from the early morning sun as he enters the First Ward Elementary school to cast his ballot for Charlotte local government. T.ORTEGA GAINES-ogaines@charlotteobserer.com

11/03/09 Charlie Schomp,4, shows off his sticker after accompanying his mother, Jenny, as she voted at the Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday afternoon. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Voters cast their ballots in Burke County, in the Broughton Hospital fire station in Morganton. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Early voters at precinct 91, Providence Presbyterian Church Tuesday morning. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/09 (L-R) Sophia Lang, 10 yrs. and her brother, Bailey Lang, 8 yrs., help their mother, Pam vote Tuesday at the Matthews Community Center in Matthews, NC. JEFF SINER - jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/09 (lft-rt) Sue Johnson is greeted by Election Assistant, Sonia Morton, at Precint 214 Tuesday morning. By 11:15am 220 voters had cast their votes at Precinct 214 in the University City United Methodist church polling location. Chief Judge Donald Barnes said that two people were waiting in line at the 6:30am opening. By lunch time a steady stream of voters were coming in to cast their ballots. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - A brief flurry of voters filled three of the 7 voting booths at Hickory precinct 36 in Viewmont. Many Hickory municipal candidates ran unopposed. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

Charlotte voter Charlette Johnson-Smith cast her ballot at First Ward Elementary school as her eleven-year old daughter, Christina Smith looks at the ballot."I have taught my kids about the importance of voting....people have died for their choice to vote" T.ORTEGA GAINES-ogaines@charlotteobserer.com

11/3/2009 - A voter (right) casts her ballot in the CoMMA auditorium lobby in Morganton Tuesday. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Campaign workers Gerry Bryant and David Barnes greet voters outside Waxhaw Elementary School Tuesday afternoon. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Campaign workers greet voters outside the Waxhaw Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday afternoon. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Campaign workers greet voters outside Waxhaw Elementary School Tuesday afternoon. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Precinct volunteer Jackie Roche hande out "I Voted" stickers to early morning voters at precinct 91, Providence Presbyterian Church Tuesday morning. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/03/09 Early voters at precinct 91, Providence Presbyterian Church Tuesday morning. DAVIE HINSHAW - dhinshaw@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/09 By 11:15am Tuesday 220 voters had cast their votes at Precinct 214 in the University City United Methodist church polling location. Chief Judge Donald Barnes said that two people were waiting in line at the 6:30am opening. By lunch time a steady stream of voters were coming in to cast their ballots. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/09 By 11:15am Tuesday 220 voters had cast their votes at Precinct 214 in the University City United Methodist church polling location. Chief Judge Donald Barnes said that two people were waiting in line at the 6:30am opening. By lunch time a steady stream of voters were coming in to cast their ballots. L.MUELLER - lmueller@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - A brief flurry of voters filled two of the 7 voting booths at Hickory precinct 36 in Viewmont. Many Hickory municipal candidates ran unopposed. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Voter Barbara Byrd (left) receives her ballot from Hickory precinct 15 judge Bonnie Rice Tuesday night. Many Hickory municipal candidates ran unopposed. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Hickory mayor Rudy Wright ran unopposed in Tuesday's election, along with two city councilmen. Wright, who owns a sign shop, printed thank you signs and posted them at polling places in the city. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Catawba Precinct 15 judges Samuel Tucker (right) and Bonnie Rice (left) wait for voters in the Ridgeview community in Hickory TUesday afternoon. Many Hickory municipal candidates ran unopposed, and voter turnout was low. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Voters 11/3/2009 - Voter casts their ballots in the CoMMA auditorium lobby in Morganton Tuesday. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - A voter (right) casts her ballot under a fresco by Ben Long in the CoMMA auditorium lobby in Morganton Tuesday. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Voters cast their ballots in Burke County. Lucy Johnson (right) votes with her husband Enoch Johnson (center), while Joann Eckard (left) votes in Hildebran in eastern Burke county. Burke county elections are totally digital, and cause some confusion after three elections. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com

11/3/2009 - Voters cast their ballots in Burke County. Lucy Johnson (right) raises her hand for help while voting with her husband Enoch Johnson (right, with hat, male), while precinct chief judge Pam Hildebran (CQ) (red vest) helps Joann Eckard (left) with her ballot at the Icard 3 polling place in Hildebran in eastern Burke county. Burke county elections are totally digital, and cause some confusion after three elections. JEFF WILLHELM - jwillhelm@charlotteobserver.com