A steady stream of voters filed through Mountain Brook City Hall Tuesday as polls opened for the special Senate election.

Most who spoke after voting described a greater excitement and a bit of angst as they prepared to cast their vote for Republican Roy Moore or Democrat Doug Jones.

Barry Stephenson, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, said about 1 p.m. that voting today is “progressing pretty well.”

He said it’s running like a normal election day so far. Secretary of State John Merrill has predicted a 25 percent voter turnout for today. But Stephenson thinks Jefferson County will top that, based on the number of calls his office has been getting.

He’s heard a couple of polling places are somewhat cold, but those are the only complaints that have come in to his office.

In Mountain Brook, Brian Sullivan noted that the new tablets were in use to identify voters.

“It’s an important election, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “It’s important for people to get out and vote Republican.”

Mountain Brook High School senior Jackson Sharman was voting for just the second time, but he noticed the difference from his previous trip to the precinct.

“People seemed a little more excited, or interested,” he said as he hurried off to math class after voting for Jones.

Mary Virginia Mandell, who also voted for Jones, said there were a lot of people showing up today “because it’s an important election.”

Cumbee Tyndal noticed a higher level of anxiety.

“I think people are concerned about this race, because of the national coverage and because of the nature of the race,” she said, acknowledging that she voted for Jones. She said she normally votes Democratic.

Brooke Kaplan was at the polling place with her 5-year-old son, Sam.

“I want to show him the importance of voting, and I have to get him to school,” she said. “I think voter turnout is going to be higher than usual. There’s a lot more riding on this election than normal. The feeling is different. It’s a little more energized.

“I voted for Doug Jones,” Kaplan said. “I vote candidate; I don’t vote party. I vote both ways.”

A man who declined to give his name said voters seemed much more active than in the past. He also noted that television cameras usually aren’t there, either.

“This is a heavy Republican precinct and I think it’s going to go for Jones,” he said, noting that he voted for the Democrat. “That’s my guess.”

Voters Turn Out Early in Huffman

Chief inspector Bill Peoples said turnout was heavy early at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Huffman. There were 50 to 60 people waiting in line at 6:30 a.m. or earlier.

“We even let them stand inside,” he said. “We don’t usually do that but it was cold.”

The flow of voters had slackened by 10 a.m. but Peoples said there are projections of a record turnout if voters continue to show up as they have.

Gregory Young, an African-American man, made an observation as he returned to the parking lot: “A lot of folks passing out stuff aren’t out here today,” he said. “People who are usually out here passing out stuff (suggesting) who to vote for, they’re not out here. It’s very strange.”

There was a lone volunteer from the Alabama Democratic Conference who was doling out yellow sample ballots marked for Doug Jones. Young said he voted for Jones.

“It’s not about what’s in the news,” he said. “I just felt he’d probably be a better candidate. Sometimes I vote Republican and sometimes I vote Democrat.”

A Caucasian man wearing a Santa hat would only identify himself as John. He said he and his wife, Sheila, never miss a chance to cast their ballots.

“If we’re breathing, we’re voting,” he said, noting that they had plenty of company today with a heavier-than-normal turnout. “I voted for Moore.”

Navy veteran Paul Jourdan, who voted for Moore, said he votes “every time I get a chance, every time there’s a voting chance. There was a lot more (voter) traffic.”

Huffman’s Jacquiese Reed, who is African American, noticed the same thing.

“For a special election, this is quite a few people,” she said, adding that she voted for Jones.