Mixed reaction from Republicans in Dumfries this Super Tuesday

Voting is underway in Virginia’s Super Tuesday Primary Election.

Voters casting ballots today will tell convention delegates who to nominate for U.S. President. Voting takes place in Virginia, as well as 12 other states today that are holding Primary Elections and Caucuses.

The polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. The Dumfries voting precinct at Town Hall saw 101 voters by 8:30. That’s about 4% of the of the precinct’s registered voters.

“It’s difficult to say whether or not voter turnout is good right now,” said Prince William County Voter Registrar Michelle White. “We normally see a pop of voters before they go to work, and then again after work.”

Many of the voters that streamed out of the Dumfries polling station said they cast their ballots for Republicans.

“I voted for Trump because he doesn’t owe anything to anybody,” said Ashley Miller, who said she believed the billionaire is running for president at the expense of his corporate empire. “His businesses will probably suffer if becomes president, but he’s running anyway.”

Healthcare was a recurring topic exiting voters spoke about. They said the federal healthcare made access to doctors more affordable but has driven costs up.

“My deductible used to be zero, and now it’s $4,000,” added Miller.

“I still have all of my coverage from work, but it is not affordable as it used to be,” said another voter who declined to give her name but said she voted for Republican Marco Rubio. “I think he’s the best option for Republicans.”

Jay Webb, of Dumfries, agrees. He said Rubio has a solid plan when it comes immigration.

“We can’t deport all of the illegal immigrants, and building a wall [at the U.S. / Mexico] border is not going to happen. Rubio, out of all of them, has the most realistic solution.”

Doug Mount cast his Primary vote for Republican Ted Cruz.

“He’s the only conservative candidate out there who speaks to the value of the Constitution and is working to restore the moral fabric of our country,” said Mount.

Dumfries Vice Mayor Willie Toney today took advantage of the Primary to get the required signatures to place his name on the ballot in the upcoming town election on May 3. If he wins, it will be his third term on the Town Council.

“If I’m lucky enough to win, this will probably be my last term on the Council,” he said.

There will be three open seats on the Town Council in the May Election. They’re currently held by Councilwoman Helen Reynolds, Councilman Charles “Cliff” Brewer, and Toney.

Poll workers are experiencing fewer problems today than they did in the Nov. 3, 2015, General Election. Instead of using problematic wireless routers to power computer equipment used to check in voters as they did last fall, they’re now using a more “tried and true” process of using direct ethernet connections, said White.