SARATOGA SPRINGS — Efforts by an elderly election judge who was trying to get everything exactly right Tuesday night was the reason for the long lines that frustrated voters and voting officials at one Saratoga Springs polling location.

While frustration was high at the location, the situation brought out the best in some people, including one woman who, after voting went home and returned with a large jug of hot chocolate for those still standing in line. Some local community groups also responded to help ease the wait by offering baby-sitting service and refreshments.

Utah County Clerk/Auditor Kim Jackson said the elderly judge took his job very seriously and probably felt he was under tremendous pressure because he had about 70 provisional ballots to process in a district that has doubled in size since the 2002 election.

Jackson said he could have sent police officers to physically remove the judge but was reluctant to embarrass him and put the owners of the polling site — Universal Community Credit Union which provided space in a new branch office — on the news.

Jackson said he probably won't use that judge again, however.

"Because there was such a long line and such a long wait — the average wait was at two hours — some people left without voting. It makes me sad. It makes me frustrated," Jackson said.

In Utah County, it takes 942 election judges to serve the 247 voting precincts.

Kris Swensen, election coordinator, said it's a huge undertaking to fill the slots and because older people have the time to serve, about 40 percent are 65 or older. For their efforts — which begin well before polls open at 7 a.m. and end long after they close at 8 p.m. — judges are paid $80 plus $15 for attending training.

The Saratoga Springs 1 District was split in February but still had 1,495 registered voters on the books, a considerable increase from 2002 when there were 850.

Jackson said he asked the credit union management if their new building in the four corners area could serve as a polling place even though it wasn't yet open. It became obvious shortly before Election Day that the double-wide trailer currently serving as the city office building would not be able to accommodate the anticipated large voter turnout.

"They (the credit union) were nice enough to let us," Jackson said. "But, we had to get an occupancy permit special from the city. Then they (the credit union) printed up signs at their expense to let people know where they needed to go."

Jeff Sermon, who serves as the credit union's president, said granting the request delayed the grand opening of the branch a couple of days because landscapers couldn't get in to finish their work.

But Sermon feels good about helping the vote go forward.

"It was interesting," he said. "It was pretty heart-warming to see. People from the community pulled together and made the best of it. One lady finished voting, went home and came back with a big jug of hot chocolate for everybody in the line. Young people in the line let the old people go first."

Teenagers also showed up to baby-sit with videos and coloring books, Sermon said.

Sermon handed out cookies during the daylight hours and then ordered in 25 pizzas when dark set in.

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