Updated: Vernon Voters Head to the Polls

Updated: 1 a.m. Wedesday.

Vernon residents took to the polls on Tuesday for the 2013 municipal elections. Seats for mayor, the Town Council and the Board of Education are at stake.  

The polls opened at 6 a.m. and two-and-a-half hours later, the average was just more than 200 at the four locations. 

Moderators and greeters inside the voting locations were classifying the pace as "slow but steady."

Outside, candidates greeted voters and admitted, the temperature in the low 30s seemed a lot warmer than two years ago, when it was colder with wind. 

"It feels much warmer. Last time was really cold," said Democratic mayoral candidate Thomas DiDio at Vernon Center Middle School. Standing next to him were Republican Town Council candidate Kimberly Appleyard, who was taking no chances with a ski jacket and GOP school board incumbent David Kemp joked that the weather never bothers a veteran like himself. 

Over at Northeast School, Democratic Board of Education candidate Paul Stansel reminded everyone that six years ago, it was cold with rain. 

Republican mayoral candidate Daniel Champagne, used to all kinds of conditions in his more than two decades as a police officer, agreed that was one of the worst weather days ever for a local election. He was a council candidate at the time. He said the weather on Tuesday would be nice for the voters as it warmed up. 

Champagne and DiDio were both looking dapper in shirts and ties, but the best-dressed tamed was at Rockville High School, where Republican council candidate Brian Motola and greeter George Keenan were decked out in suits. 

A couple of voters did a double-take when running into Keenan because they are used to seeing him in crossing guard garb at Center Road School. 

Then, there were Stansel and Republican council candidate Adam Weissberger, who wore Jets and Giants jackets, respectively. 

They decided if the teams could share a stadium, they can campaign together on the same sidewalk and posed for a picture. 

At 11:27 a.m., a total of 1,919 ballots were were cast. That is 12.2 percent of the 15,743 eligible voters. Voting runs until 8 p.m.

For election particulars, visit:

http://vernon.patch.com/groups/elections/p/tuesday-is-election-day-in-vernon

Stay here for updates throughout the day: 

At 1:01 p.m., the total number of votes cast was 2,244 - a 14.27 percent turnout. 

At 2:10 p.m., the vote count was 2,800 even, representing  a turnout of 17.79 percent.  

The count at 2:40 p.m. was 2,937 - a 18.66 percent turnout. 

As poll workers were preparing for the evening rush - at 5:48 p.m. - the count was 4,425. That's a 28.11 percent turnout. 

A total of 5,147 voters went to the polls, or 32,69 percent of those eligible to cast ballots in Vernon.