East Tampa Voter Is 'Ready For A Change'

By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 04, 2008

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1:15 p.m.: "I felt good, I felt happy," said 50-year-old Tampa native Susan Staten, who voted shortly after 1 p.m. today at the Ragan Park Community Center in East Tampa. "We're ready for a change."

Precinct workers said there was a long line at the center this morning, but afternoon attendance was significantly lower.

"There's always someone in there voting," said one worker, who was gearing up for the expected crush of late-day voters beginning at 4 p.m.

Twenty-nine-year-old Sparkle Smith brought along her 7-month-old daughter, Lazah Bacon, to vote. She reported no problems with the county's new ballot system.

"It was cool," Smith said. "We got to put our own ballots in the machine."

"We know nobody can steal them," Staten added.