Update: 18 Percent of Takoma Park's Registered Voters Cast Their Vote Today

Update 8:00 p.m.: As of 8 p.m., the close of the polls at the Takoma Park Community Center, 1,813 people had voted in the election. Though the line was out the door at 6:30 p.m., by 7:30 p.m. the crowd was dwindling. Only scattered voters showed in the last few minutes.

This final tally of voters is more than those for both the 2007 and 2009 elections. In 2007, 1,010 residents cast a vote; in 2009, 1,733 did.

“It’s part of the culture here to go out and participate,” said Rob Carter, a resident of Ward 3, the only ward with a three-way race.

This year, 18 percent of registered voters cast votes. According to Election Judge Anne Sergeant, there were no troubles with the voting equipment.

“It was good,” a noticeably busy Sargeant said as the polls closed. “It went well.”

Update 6:35 p.m.: As of 5 p.m., 1271 people have voted in the city election. Turnout slowed down between noon and 6 p.m., but by 6:30 p.m. the line to check in was out the front door of the community center and there was a wait ouside both rooms to vote.

The number of voters has already surpased the 2007 number of 1,010 total voters and is creeping up on the 2009 number of 1733 total vote cast.

Update 4 p.m.: As of 3 p.m., 1026 people have voted in the Takoma Park City Election, according to Takoma Park Spokesman Craig Terrill. There have been no reports of trouble with any of the voting machines.

Update 1 p.m.: As of noon 549 people have voted in the Takoma Park City election.

Lines slowed down significantly since the morning rush and it's expected to be slowest from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Election Judge Robbi Kimball said.

Turnout should pickup significantly around 6 p.m., Kimball said. Before work and after work are traditionally busy times for the polls.

There have been no reports of machines down and voting has been going smoothly.

Stayed tuned to Patch for election results and voter turnout numbers.

Original Story: Voter turnout was light in the first hour of voting, but as the morning wore on a line wrapped through the main foyer of the Takoma Park Community Center.

"Turnout has been significantly higher that two years ago," Ward 6 Incumbent Candidate Fred Schultz said. In the 2009 city election there were two contested seats, the Mayoral seat and Ward 6. This year there are three contested races.

"There have been no problems and the lines have been moving quickly," Election Judge Anne Sergeant said.

The shuttle to pick up voters has been lighter than past years, according to Ward 4 Candidate Terry Seamens, who drives the van himself.

Though voters were trickling in from the back where the building's parking lot sits, voters streamed through the front in waves from 8 to 8:30 a.m.

"I've seen four Ward 6 voters that I recognize," said Ward 6 Candidate Barrie Howard, who was one of many candidates campaigning by the back entrance of the community center.

Voter turnout in the city election, which is held in off years, has been less than half the national average, but with three contested races this year candidates are expecting the numbers to be much higher.

Howard registered about 40 new voters in Ward 6, he said.

Correction: This story originally misstated that Ward 6 was the only contested race in the 2009 Takoma Park City Election. We regret the error.