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GREENSBORO — For the first time in her life, Bridgette Barbre stepped into a voting booth Tuesday and pulled the lever — pushed a button, actually — for a candidate.

The N.C. A&T sophomore waited for this moment for a long time. She remembers being around family members when they debated politics, wishing she could do more than just talk.

"I always wanted to vote when I was little," she said.

Barbre wasn’t the only one voting for the first time, or at least at a time when they normally stayed home.

Turnout for the election soared above the typical spring primary, fueled by a rare chance for North Carolina voters to have a say in a presidential nominating contest — and by passion about the candidates involved.

With all but a relative handful of ballots counted, unofficial totals showed the turnout in Guilford County to be just a shade under 40 percent, or more than the double the turnout from the 2004 primary.

Typically, primary turnout ranges from 15 to 25 percent, said George Gilbert, the county’s elections director.

Inside the student union at A&T, a steady stream of students lined up to vote. Many expressed enthusiasm about the chance to take part in what they described as a historic opportunity to see an African American elected president.

"I’m hoping for it. I really am excited about it," said Altion Bethea, a sophomore political science major.

Like others, Bethea said his support for Sen. Barack Obama went beyond a shared race.

Among other things, Bethea said Obama’s election would send a powerful signal to the rest of the world. "They see us as a country that’s still stuck in the past," he said.

Although many cited the contested Democratic primary as the main draw, others emphasized a sense of duty to vote, period.

"As far as black history goes, and civil rights ... if you’re not voting, all you’re doing is slapping people in the face," said A&T graduate Barrett Brewington.

Across town at Gate City Baptist Church on Hilltop Road, 18-year-old Amina Simmons said she felt the need to take time to vote.

"I feel like our generation needs to start making a difference in the world," she said.

The precinct, next to Adams Farm, seemed particularly busy, some voters said.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people here," Temple Eller said.

The Democratic primary wasn’t a draw for Eller, but big issues such as the more than half-billion dollars in various bonds were, she said.

Still, most voters cited the Democratic primary as the main attraction.

Early voting totals illustrated those sentiments. Among the more than 30,000 Guilford County voters who cast early ballots, more than 80 percent were Democrats, reflecting the fact that the Republican nomination has long been settled.

Many voters put their motivation plainly: "The big contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama," said Clinton supporter Lisa Benatti.

Benatti expressed pessimism about her candidate’s chances of gaining the nomination, but that wasn’t enough to keep her away from the polls.

"There’s always a chance," she said of Clinton.

Regardless of how they stood on the issues, many voters echoed a common theme.

Vote — or don’t whine about what happens later.

"The way I feel is, you can’t complain if you don’t vote," said Greensboro voter Jonita Lyle, cracking a smile. "I want to be able to complain."

Contact Jason Hardin at 373-7021 or at jason.hardin@news-record.com