Election Day voting underway in Isabella County
Election Day is in full swing across Isabella County.
Union Township poll worker Mary Beltley said a number of people lined up to do vote before the doors even opened.
“It’s a good sign, she said. “There were a lot of people that were here early, before 7 o’clock and standing in the rain. … I think it’s going to be a steady flow.”
As early as 8:20 a.m., 84 people had already cast ballots at Fancher Elementary School in Mount Pleasant.
Olivia Caylor, 22, was one of them.
“I think your voice matters, even if not everyone wants to hear,” the Mount Pleasant resident said. “I think reproductive rights are really important and I’d rather vote for someone that protects them.”
Mount Pleasant resident Michael Dell, 50, was one of the first 177 people to cast his ballot at the Union Township Hall today. He is voting for life.
“I’m a believer in Jesus Christ and I’m voting so our kids can be free,” he said. “I will vote for life. … Our freedoms are getting ripped away and freedom of religion will get ripped away if we do not stand up.”
As of just after 11 a.m., Ganiard Elementary poll workers had counted just under 300 ballots cast.
Julia Wilson, of Mount Pleasant resident who voted at the school this morning, said she hopes for a better future in the United States with less political division.
"I would love to see all of us be able to have a conversation with parties, to come closer together like they used to be," Wilson said. "I don't think that we are actually that different as individuals."
Poll workers at Fancher Elementary said they were expecting up to 1,000 voters to come through by the time the polls close at 8 p.m. More than 2,800 voters were estimated to have cast their ballots at Powers Hall on the Central Michigan University campus during early voting, which started Oct. 22 and wrapped Sunday.
Central Michigan Life staff will be reporting hourly from the polls until they close, then providing regular updates as election results roll in. Follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram throughout the day and into this evening, and check back to www.cm-life.com for updates as they unfold.
