Isabella County votes for change
A precinct sign directs voters on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, outside Fancher Elementary School. (CM-Life | Soli Gordon)
There may not be final counts, but the results are clear: voters in Isabella county want change. They just envision it differently.
Throughout the day on Nov. 5, Central Michigan Life staff visited seven polling locations to ask what voters are thinking, and why they decided to vote.
For some, like Kim Friedrich, 43, voting is an important habit to develop.
Others, like Bruno Wemigwans, 53, are voting for the first time because this election has the potential for change.
Regardless of who they’re voting for, citizens said what they want is change.
Tuesday morning, Ryan Dukes cast his vote at Pullen Elementary School. He said this is an important election for his generation.
“If you want change, whatever that change may be, whatever side you vote for, it’s important that everybody gets out and votes,” Dukes said
Jade Washington, 23, also said she’s voting for change and encourages others to do the same.
After voting at Ganiard Elementary School, Mount Pleasant Resident Julia Wilson said she wants less political division between individuals.
“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.”
The day itself
The longest wait at any of the polling locations was an hour-long line at Ganiard Elementary School in the afternoon. However, several voters said it was worth the wait.
Mother-daughter duo Judi and Maryska Steffke said they drove 25 miles both ways an extra time because of a forgotten wallet, but Judi said they were still enthusiastic about voting and willing to spend the extra time.
Around 5 p.m., volunteer poll worker Don Socha said the energy at the Pullen Elementary School polling location was enjoyable.
"Everything is really positive, everyone seems really polite and very appreciative," Socha said. "It's festive, almost."
Some voters, like Jim Barz from Deerfield Township and Richard Clark from Union Township told CM Life they're feeling a bit nervous about this election because of conspiracy theories and rhetoric about election fraud.
By the end of the day, voting had slowed down at more rural locations like Deerfield Township, where only a few ballots were cast in the last hour of open polling.
CM Life reporters Masha Smahliuk, Courtney Body, Blace Carpenter, Lydia Soltis and Keara Banks contributed to this report.
