Election Day

On November 2 the much-awaited midterm Senate and House elections took place across the country. I was blessed to be a part of a team of New York Times freelancers and staffers stationed around the U.S.

I spent election day photographing polling places in Bowling Green, Ky. (the hometown of Republican Senate Candidate Rand Paul.)

My first East Coast deadline was 8am (7am in Bowling Green.) With polls opening at 6am, I had a little under an hour to make some early photos for the web. After making deadline I hit other polling places across town, transmitting periodically to "feed the beast." Later in the morning I covered Rand Paul voting at a local elementary school, as well as some of his supporters demonstrating along main roads in Bowling Green.

As the day progressed I covered more ground in Bowling Green and marked a spot on the press riser at Paul's election night party at the Bowling Green convention center. It was a joy to shoot alongside my good friend Daniel Houghton as well as other WKU PJ's who were freelancing for area newspapers. Kentucky's polls were some of the earliest to close in the nation, so we didn't have to wait long before Paul appeared on stage with his family to declare victory. It was a17-hour work day, and I enjoyed every minute of it. What a privilege it is to take photographs for a living.


Warren County schools were closed on election day as gymnasiums and cafeterias were transformed into polling places for Western Kentucky voters in Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times) 





An election official passed out "I voted" stickers to Kentucky voters who cast their ballots early election day morning at a polling place in Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Election officials search for a voter's address on a precinct map at a polling place in Bowling Green, Ky. on election day morning, November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Republican Senate Candidate and Tea Party favorite Dr. Rand Paul speaks with the media after voting at Briarwood Elementary School with his wife Kelley and son Robert in Bowling Green, Ky, on election day, November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)






Rina Malmquist, left, a campaign volunteer and neighbor of Republican Senate Candidate Dr. Rand Paul, and her son Jacob Malmquist wave to passing motorists on the corner of a busy intersection in Bowling Green, Ky. on election day, November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Television news correspondents prepare for live shots at the site of Republican Senate candidate Dr. Rand Paul's election night victory party at the Convention Center in Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)



Republican Senate candidate Dr. Rand Paul celebrates his win over Democrat Jack Conway at his election night victory party at the Convention Center in Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2010. (Luke Sharrett for The New York Times)


**Photos copyright Luke Sharrett and The New York Times**

Posted by Luke S at 10:43 PM