Mid-Day and Last Voters

Posted on: November 9th, 2016 by bromski

With the sun peeking through the clouds Edker Ivy waited to the line to cast her ballot Tuesday at Oxford One, at 10:46 a.m..

A 61 year-old retired Oxford native, Ivy was ready to cast her ballot in the election. She had been waiting all morning for her daughter to come pick her up..

“ I was at home and my  daughter came and got me. Now I get to vote,” Ivy said.

The 2016 Presidential election has been viewed as a one of a kind election. Many have said it’s unlike any other based on how the candidates have handled themselves throughout their campaigns.

Looking at her phone, Ivy laughed when asked about her views on this election.

“This has been a strange one but I’m going to vote. I’ve been voting since I’ve been able to vote,” Ivy said.

Fixing her shirt Ivy was laughing when she was asked on if had recently decided on who she was voting for and if she would tell.

Ivy knew who she was voting for but declined to share whom she was voting for.

Harris waited in line for 15 minutes before entering and casting her vote for the election. Harris and daughter left the building with their I Voted stickers.

Amber Mckeehen cast her ballot on a chilly Tuesday night at Oxford One, at 6:30 p.m., 25 minutes after she arrived to stand in line.

Mckeehen, a 31-year-old Ole Miss student, was not hesitant about sharing her views on the election.

“I think it’s a large disappointment in a lot of ways but I think we stand to gain a lot. I think that we may see more even call on the House and Senate then we’ve ever had. I think they’ll work better together from now on.”

Social media is one of the best ways politicians can get their messages out to the public, however, it can also have the power to ruin a candidate’s chances.

“I think social media has played a large role, especially in the last few days with Trump losing numbers because his Twitter was shut down. That caused a lot of fear in voters and they actually did a study on that today; with the sharing of the emails and WikiLeaks, it’s caused everyone to go back and forth,” Mckeehen said.

Looking at her husband, Mckeehen shared why she waited this late to cast her vote:

“My husband just got off work at Walmart and I wanted to vote with him,” Mckeehen said.

2016 has seen a record breaking turnout for voter registration. As the line was moving forward and children’s laughter was in the background Mckeehen shared her thoughts.

“I think it’s awesome, it needs to continue to go up. I think that millennials are starting to understand that their vote counts more and more. That’s why we are getting more votes,” Mckeehen said.

The right to vote is very important to Mckeehen.

“I’ve had a brother injured in Iraq, I was a junior when 9/11 happened, and I’ve watched friends go off to war. It means I have the right to vote for everything they have fought for and if I don’t utilize that right, I’m dishonoring my servicemen and my country,” Mckeehen said.

Several people didn’t have a favorite candidate they were voting for, but more they were voting for the candidate that is running for their party. Mckeehen laughed when she said whom she was voting for.

“I’m a republican and I’m voting for Trump,” Mckeehen said.

Kirk Laughter, a first-time voter, was ready to cast his ballot on Tuesday night at Oxford One, at 6:38 p.m.

Laughter, a 20-year-old Ole Miss student, had mixed emotions on this election.

“It has been a disappointment in a sense, but it’s exciting that a lot more people are getting involved,” Laughter said.

Social media is a big tool for the candidate’s to be able to share their platforms with young people.

“I think social media has helped with that. You can’t get even get on your Facebook without seeing a soundbite from Trump or something Hilary said. I think it’s gotten a lot more people involved and the registration being up,” Laughter said.

First-time voters can now have a say so in history and can make their opinions heard by voting.

“It’s important just cause after we graduate we’ll probably enter the workforce. So this will be the first presidency that we’ll have an impact in voting for. We’ll feel the effects of who is voted tonight,” Laughter said.

Some voters have mixed feelings about this being their choices to vote for.

“I’m not particularly happy with my choices but it’s exciting I guess. I’m voting for Trump,”

Laughter gave another person a high-five when he shared that Ben Carson was his original choice until he dropped out and she shared the same opinion as him.

 

Jared Cox