On the first day of early voting in Missouri, voters flock to the polls and are met with long lines

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Voters in Jackson County waited in long lines Tuesday to submit an early ballot.

It was the first day of early voting in Missouri, and many voters took advantage of the opportunity to get their vote in early.

Some voters KCTV5 spoke to at Country Club Christian Church said they only waited 10 minutes, while others said they waited an hour and a half.

But these protocols played no role for these advanced voters in ensuring their voices were heard.

“It is a privilege but also your duty and the more people who vote the more there will be a good consensus on the outcome,” said James Boughan.

Many people didn’t want to wait until Election Day to show their support for the issues they felt were important to them.

“Super passionate about abortion rights,” Leah Reiter said.

“Right now it’s between democracy and autocracy, and I don’t feel like people of color in this county have had their full rights so far,” Brian Hardy said, “and the fact that you can vote for someone who literally “We can’t allow what you have from yourself.”

“I have two daughters and I think it’s really important to protect their right to bodily autonomy, so Amendment 3 was very important to me,” Elizabeth Verklen said.

Verklen was one of many voters who brought their children to vote and said this was a moment for democracy and showing young people what that process looks like.

“I think it’s a really big responsibility as a parent to show them that you have a voice and that you matter and that part of using that voice is voting,” Verklen said.

Exchange marked ballots for an “I Voted” sticker. Something many wore proudly, and these voters said they hoped others would join them.

“Oh, that means everything. I’ve been voting since Clinton in the early ’90s, so it’s something I have to do and something I always will do,” Hardy said.

“Just come here and do it, every vote counts, seriously, every vote counts,” Reiter said.

For a complete list of early voting polling locations, click Change.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.