Bea Perry was ready for the voters.

Her hood pulled up over her hair, she stood beneath a tent at the Chavis Center in Southeast Raleigh, ready to help voters on behalf of the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, a civil rights group. Nearby boxes of Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme and boxes of coffee were stacked on a table.

Perry said turnout was good, though she expected many already cast their ballots during early voting. She was here then, too, and saw about a 1,000 a day, more than double the number from 2004.

She would know. The 77-year-old retired schoolteacher has worked every election here for the RWCA since 1961, helping voters and getting out the word on its endorsements. She cited her experience voting in the days before the 1965 Civil Rights Act outlawed literacy tests as a catalyst.

"When I got ready to vote when I was 18 years of age, I had to recite the preamble to the Constitution to a man who couldn't even read it," she said. "Now, my nephew is the mayor."

How long did it take to memorize the preamble?

"About 15 minutes," she replied. "I already knew it, and I still do."

Could she say it now? She took a long stare at the young white reporter before her before speaking.

"I could. But I'm not. The days of testing are over."

A line of about 75 people snaked around the Chavis Center this morning.

Despite a persistent drizzle, the voting center in Southeast Raleigh was doing brisk business this morning, with the line clearing up once polls opened at 6:30 a.m. By 7:45, most voters could walk in directly and cast their ballot.

Unemployed cook George Hall Jr., 61, was one of those voters. He marked the ballot for Barack Obama, Kay Hagan and Beverly Perdue, saying he was tired of "Bushonomics" and ready to have his say.

"If you don't vote, you don't have a voice," he said, his eyes tearing. "And I intend to have a voice."

Hall, who is black, said he was also stirred by Obama's chance to become the first black president.

"I wanted to be president at one time," he said, chewing a toothpick thoughtfully. "I'm serious. I thought about it growing up. I'm just glad to have the opportunity to vote for someone else."

Fred Davis said turnout at the Chavis Center in southeastern Raleigh today has been better than expected.

The chief judge for the voting location said that typically 60 voter cast ballots by 1:30 p.m. This year 234 voters had cast ballots by the same time.

Davis, who has volunteered as an election official for the last three presidential elections, also said one-stop voting has affected the turnout.

"The one-stop voting cut down our numbers somewhat," he said. "A lot of people that normally vote today voted one-stop."

Many people found one-stop voting more convenient since they could show up at any Raleigh location, register and vote at the same time, Davis said.

But the same process has led to some confusion, with voters thinking they could show up Tuesday and register, he added.

Davis said the day is far from over.

"A lot of people will come in to vote when they get off work and after school," he said. "I think we've still got a lot to go. I'm hoping it's going to be a good rest of the day.

"You dread it in the morning when you get up," Davis said. "But around this time of the day, you like it more and more."