As the midterm election season nears a conclusion, voters continue to stream to the polls at a brisk but manageable pace in the greater Arbutus area.

"It's been steady all day," says Deena White, poll judge at Arbutus Middle School.

Election officials predicted earlier this week that turnout would reach 60 percent, which is nearly twice the 31 percent turnout in September's primary election.

Katie Brown, county elections director, said she expected turnout to reach 60 percent based on vote totals so far.

Many voters are looking forward to an end to the onslaught of negativity that marked this election.

"I'm glad for it to be over," says Brian Schexnayder after voting at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department. "I was getting fatigued by the negative ads."

"It's a crazy time," says Jen Cooper of Arbutus. "I'll be glad when he political ads are over."

"The negativity has gone through the roof," says Gareth Sparks of Arbutus.

Sue Bosley of Arbutus said the governor's race was the number one reason she voted. She said voted for Ehrlich because of his ability to maintain the budget.

Some people expressed the much-discussed outrage that popular narrative suggests is motivating votes in this mid-term election.

"I'm sick of the two years of presidential hogwash on TV," says an older woman outside Arbutus Middle School who declined to identify herself. "I hope it's a big change."

"When I found out what the Democrats were for, I changed my party to Republicans because I don't believe nothing that the Democrats wanted," says Loretta Bartley of Halethorpe. "They just want to spend everything to get us so far in debt, we'll never get out."

"We gotta get the young voters out because I think they're brainwashing them all in school," says Theresa Summers of Halethorpe.

Regardless of political positions, the key is to vote, Schexnayder says.

"It's an important time to vote, whether Democrat or Republican, so we can tell the government where we stand," he says.