Voters across South Whidbey overwhelmingly went to the polls to cast votes for a change in Congress and to send a message about the war, according to informal exit polls conducted at all polling stations on the South End on Election Day.

The Record stationed reporters outside every polling location — in Freeland, Langley, Clinton and Bayview — to get an early sense of what drove voters to the polls

Nov. 7. Although early election results were not available from Island County election officials before The Record went to press, most voters said in exit polls that they wanted to send a message about Iraq with their vote.

Forty voters were interviewed over the span of five hours on Election Day. Almost all of those polled said they were regular voters, and many said they were casting their ballots in hopes of bringing about a change in leadership. Following pre-election polls nationwide, voters contacted by The Record Tuesday frequently said the war was the biggest national issue.

“I wanted to send a message to people not even on the ballot,” said David Iles, who voted at the Bayview Senior Center.

“We need to take power from the Republicans. My biggest concern is with our foreign policy in general and Iraq in particular,” Iles said.

“I’ve had too much on the national level. It’s gone overboard with Iraq,” said Tim Economu of Clinton.

He also criticized the president, Congress and the Supreme Court for taking up the Terry Schiavo case, and said the Schiavo case was a private medical matter used to further a political agenda.

Poll workers said there was a higher-than-normal early turnout at the Clinton Progressive Hall after the polls opened at 7 a.m. Many voters came in to cast ballots before rushing off to work.

In Langley, not a single parking spot was left vacant all morning at the Langley polling place at Brookhaven. Several cars circled the parking lot.

“I had to park illegally to vote,” one voter said.

Poll workers said they had been busy all morning with clusters of people coming in between 11 a.m. and noon.

Volunteer Susan Zwinger estimated that before noon more than 170 people had come and gone.

She also observed that people stayed away from electronic voting machines.

“People don’t like the voting machines,” she said.

The overshadowing issue for most voters in Langley was the war in Iraq.

“We don’t want a president who is overusing his power,” said Emily Day.

“I don’t consider myself a liberal. I am an Ohio farm girl,” Day said. “I grew up a Republican. But this is about change and solving the conflict in Iraq.”

Added Marti Murphy: “Loud and clear – I want change.”

“For me, it’s the war,” said Jeanne Fisher.

Poll workers said turnout in the Bush Point and Austin precincts at Trinity Lutheran Church was good. By 9:30 a.m., 36 people had voted. In the September election, 196 voted from those areas.

Freeland resident Marty Matthews said he was most interested in the local election, where he feels his vote has the most impact.

But Jack Eskenazi said he hopes his vote sends a big message.

“It’s time to get rid of ‘stay the course,’” he said.

In Bayview, poll workers reported steady business all morning — there was a full house from 10 to 11 a.m.

“My husband and I want to send a simple message today — get rid of Bush!” said Ruth Carlin.

“I voted to get the rascals out. By that I mean the criminally insane Bush administration,” added Dennis Reed.

“I don’t think any one party should control the government,” said Michael Morgan.

Exit polls

What we did: Record reporters selected 10 people at random at polling locations in Bayview, Clinton, Freeland and Langley at different times on Election Day. Voters were asked the same questions after they had finished voting.

Bayview snapshot: Voters were evenly split between voting for the candidate, or voting for the party. Voters also split 50-50 between voting a straight ticket, or crossing over and voting for candidates in both parties. A strong majority, 70 percent, said they wanted their vote to send a message; 80 percent of those polled said Iraq was the biggest issue, followed by immigration and healthcare. Five voters identified themselves as moderates, while four said they leaned to the left side of the political spectrum, and one, to the right. All people polled said they voted regularly.

Clinton snapshot: All people polled said they voted regularly. Half said they voted based both on the person, and the party. Six-of-10 voters said they did not cross party lines when they voted. Six people polled said they were liberals; two were Libertarians, one was a Republican, and one moderate. Four voters said change was the big issue. The second biggest issue were the policies of the president and Republicans, followed closely by judicial appointments and the make-up of the Supreme Court.

Freeland snapshot: More than half polled said they voted for the party, and not the candidate; 80 percent said they voted across party lines. Only one voter was not a frequent voter. The message: All but two voters said they wanted change.

Langley snapshot: All of those polled said they voted regularly. Voters were evenly divided between voting for the person first, or the party. A slight majority said they crossed party lines. A strong majority of voters, 60 percent, said they wanted their vote to send a message. A majority also said Iraq and foreign policy was the main issue, with others saying change, peace, the economy and “getting George Bush out” were the main issues this November. More than half of those polled said they were liberal in politics, with the rest saying they were independent or moderate voters.