By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

CLAWSON — Al Hodge took one look at the line and turned around.

“That’s way too long,” he said. “I’ll come back later.”

The Clawson senior citizen was one of the thousands of residents of Clawson and Royal Oak who went to the voting booth early this morning, as long lines greeted voters throughout the area.

Hodge walked away from a line of about 75 residents at Hunter Community Center in Clawson — even though it was moving at a steady clip. He said he would be back later in the day to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

“I just think McCain would do a better job,” he said.

Long lines could be found at many polling locations from the time they opened at 7 a.m. until after lunch, when things began to slow down. Wait times ranged from almost no wait at all to an hour, depending on the location, according to election workers.

It wasn’t a lack of voting booths that slowed voters at Royal Oak High School; it was not enough secretive sleeves to go around ballots, election workers there said. Both precincts at the location had high turnout as of noon, with nearly 600 voting in each.

Danielle Lanthier didn’t know what to expect when she went to the polls at Jane Addams Elementary School in Royal Oak just before 2:30 p.m.

“I was a little nervous about the lines, but I just walked right up,” she said.

Lanthier, 29, voted for the first time in her life.

“I think people in my generation are becoming more conscious of the world around them,” said Lanthier, saying she didn’t want to disclose for whom she voted. “I feel change is in the air.”

The presidential election wasn’t the only thing bringing voters out. Brian Moran of Royal Oak said he was out to support both Proposal 1 and Proposal 2. Proposal 1 in Michigan would allow for the use of medicinal marijuana and Proposal 2 would allow stem cell research in the state.

“I know (Democratic candidate Barack) Obama is going to win the state, but I just really wanted to vote for the proposals,” he said.

Oakland Circuit Court Judge candidate Mary Ellen Brennen was greeting voters in Royal Oak and said the voting was very steady.

“I did this in 2004 as well, and the enthusiasm for this election is so much greater,” she said. “I think the weather helps.”

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110.