Updated: Del Ray Heads to the Polls

7 p.m. update — The polls are now closed. 

Follow the unofficial results of the Democratic and Republican primaries on the Virginia State Board of Elections website. 

Patch will be catching up with the City Council candidates as the results come in.

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6:30 p.m. update — As of 6:15 p.m., 716 total ballots had been cast at George Washington Middle School. Of those ballots, 627 of them are for the Democratic primary for Congress and City Council. Eighty-nine of them are for the GOP Senate primary.

The precint has 3,966 registered voters.

Polls close in a half an hour.  

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5:30 p.m. update — Polls close at 7 p.m. Here's for you.

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4:10 p.m. update — Voting supervisors at several precincts said they hadn’t experienced any issues with the paper ballots for Tuesday’s primaries, though the filling in of the blank boxes may have slightly irritated some voters (see the comments section of this story).

“We’ve had no issues with the paper ballots,” said Stephen Glomb, who is overseeing poll operations at the George Mason Elementary School. “Some people say ‘Oh, it’s back to the Dark Ages,’ but it has been quick and smooth.”

Poll supervisors at Mount Vernon, George Mason, George Washington, Cora Kelly, Maury and Douglas MacArthur Elementary all said there were no issues with the paper ballots.

What did you think of filling out the paper ballots? Let us know in the comments section.

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3:45 p.m. update — Here’s a look at the voter turnout at the precincts in the Del Ray area:

• As of 1 p.m., 394 total primary ballots had been cast at Maury Elementary. Precinct has 3,042 registered voters.
• As of 1:15 p.m., 379 total primary ballots had been cast at . Precinct has 2,863 registered voters and typically has the highest voter turnout in Alexandria.
• As of 2:15 p.m., 481 total primary ballots had been cast at Mount Vernon Rec Center. Precinct has 4,655 registered voters.
• As of 2:20 p.m., 240 total ballots had been cast at Cora Kelly. Precinct has 4,827 registered voters and typically has some of the lowest voter turnout in Alexandria.
• As of 2:45 p.m., 451 total ballots had been cast at GW Middle. Precinct has 3,966 registered voters.

These ballot totals are both GOP and Democratic ballots. At George Washington Middle School, 389 of the 451 ballots at 2:45 p.m. were for the Democratic primary. At Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 444 of the 481 ballots were for the Democratic primary. 

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11:25 a.m. update — Sharon McLoone from reports that . 

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11:05 a.m. update — City Council candidates and and U.S. Congressional candidate , all Democrats, were stumping outside Mount Vernon Rec Center shortly before 11 a.m.

Shuttleworth said he and his wife planned on making it to as many polling stations in the 8th district as possible. He had already spent some time at and GW Middle School, he said. .

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, who is being challenged by Shuttleworth, is expected to stop by some of the polling places in the Del Ray area toward the end of the day.

Wilson told Patch he planned on following what has become an election day traditional for him and a friend—lunch at the on King Street in Old Town.

Wilson said he only scheduled 20 minutes for the lunch, which didn't leave a lot of time for a burrito and conversation. 

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With for the Democratic primary for Alexandria City Council, voters had a good chance of getting some face time with one or two of them on Tuesday at the city’s 26 polling stations.

Voters also stood a good chance of running into , who is not on a ballot on Tuesday but will face six Democratic nominees in the November election.

Fannon told Patch around 7:15 a.m. outside that he planned on hitting every one of the city’s polling stations on Tuesday as voters made their selections in the and the and council.

“I’m just making the rounds,” Fannon said. “It’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of Alexandrians I don’t see on a regular basis. … Because of the new election schedule, I’m going to need a lot more votes in November than I did in May [2009].”

Former Councilwoman Joyce Woodson was wearing a rain slicker outside GW Middle School and stumping for Democratic candidates and . She said she liked what those two “stand for” and that the large field of Democrats running for council was a good thing for the city.

“I believe in democracy and the more people put themselves out there in leadership positions, the better we’ll all be,” Woodson said. “It’s harder than people think.”

Menjivar was speaking with voters outside the polling station shortly before 8 a.m. The first-time candidate said primary day carried a familiar feeling.

“I felt this way right before I gave birth to my kids,” Menjivar said. “Just trying to get everything in the right place.”

Menjivar said she has enjoyed talking to people throughout her campaign. She has made affordable housing the focus of her efforts and said the issue has resounded with renters and homeowners alike.

“They’re equally concerned,” she said. “People want to share this city. They want diversity.”

Campaign workers for several candidates outside the rec center said it appeared most voters had their minds made up as they made their way to the polls.

Moshenberg, who was outside the precinct around 8 a.m., said she noticed voters going over newspaper articles and computer printouts about the candidates as she was knocking on doors over the weekend and on Monday.

“I feel really good,” said Moshenberg, who held training sessions for poll workers on Monday night and early Tuesday morning at her home. “I’ve had great conversations with voters and I think we’ve hit over 10,000 doors in the city.”

Moshenberg and Menjivar have run a joint campaign, appearing on mailings together. Moshenberg has referred to herself and Menjivar as "friends and sister activists." The two planned to follow the returns at Menjivar’s house in Warwick Village after the polls close, then Moshenberg said she was going to head over to the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s party in Cameron Station.

Menjivar planned to stay put.   

“I want to watch the game,” Menjivar said. “We’re rooting for the Miami Heat.”

Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder begins at 9 p.m.

This story will be updated throughout the day with reports from polling places and other primary election activity.

For more Patch coverage of the 2012 Election, "like" Del Ray Patch and Old Town Alexandria Patch on Facebook and follow @delraypatch and @alexandriapatch on Twitter.