Haley Hodge a master’s student of fine arts at The University of Mississippi was just walking out of Oxford 1 after casting her ballet at 9:15 a.m.

At 25, Hodge believes that her vote in this year’s election is important even though she isn’t a big supporter of either candidates.

“It’s one of the most important things that we as American citizen’s can be apart of,” said Hodge. “We have a choice and we have freedom to choose the people that lead us. Why shouldn’t we be here?”

Dressed in a cardigan, skirt and leggings, Hodge said that she didn’t know how this election was going to turn out, but she was hopeful that no matter the turnout America will get their president.

“It’s going to go whichever way but, in the end, tomorrow we’re all going to still be alive. It’s not going to be the end of the world,” Hodge said.

Donna Kufman cast her ballot on a cloudy Tuesday at Oxford One, at 7:26 a.m., 15 minutes after she arrived to stand in line.

Kufman, a 62-year-old retired Oxford native, dressed in jeans and a sweater was ecstatic that today was the day she has been waiting for.

“I’m here because I want to vote,” Kufman said.

Kaufman looked around hesitantly before giving me her opinion on the election.

“I think Donald Trump is a lot better choice. He’s never been political, never been in this ring of corruption we’re in,” Kufman said.

Kufman was not hesitant at all and raised her voice when she started talking about abortion.

“I really think babies have the right to live. My granddaughters were born at 35 weeks. If someone said they could be aborted that’s stupid,” Kufman said.

Kufman energetically said when asked about the record turnout of registered voters.

“Its amazing,” Kufman said.

Looking at her wristwatch Kufman was angry about the use of social media during the election.

“I think social media has lied a whole lot about this election, CNN and all others have lied,” Kufman said.

Walking away Kufman told her friend she was glad to finally be heard.

“I’m tired of being shadowed out,” Kufman said.

Harris was the eleventh person to cast her ballot Tuesday at Oxford One, at 7:07 a.m., 22 minutes after she arrived to find the doors closed and election workers inside setting up tables and chairs.

A 47-year-old Oxford native, dressed in her work scrubs, Harris was on her phone while waiting to cast her vote.

“I am here early to vote, I work at Millcreek of Batesville,” Harris said.

Laughing nervously Harris gave her opinion on the election so far.

“It’s very controversial. It is the most controversial election that I have voted in, but at the end of the day a choice has to be made,” Harris said.

Harris is very involved in voting and she keeps up to date in all local elections. She takes pride in voting.

“I vote in all elections and am up to date in politics,” Harris said.

Harris was smiling when said she had just recently decided on who she was voting for but did not want to tell whom she was voting for.

Walking forward in line Harris quickly checked her phone again before giving her opinion on the social media in the election.

“Um…I would say social media played a huge part in this election, but it didn’t play a major part in my decision,” Harris said.

Harris looked around a little bit before answering on what the record turnout of registered voters means to her.

“I just think everyone needs to get out and exercise their right,” Harris said.

At 7:13 Harris exited the building and walked just as it started to sprinkle.

7:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M. Oxford 5, Over by the Health Dept. All Second time voters, all affiliated with Ole Miss in some way all under the age of 27.

On a cool November morning, at 6:45 a.m., people begin to climb out of their vehicles and line up in front of the door. The ground it still wet from the previous night’s rain, and the air is cool enough to nip at the skin.  

The sky is overcast and sets the scene for the day many have looked forward to and many others have dreaded. Today is November 8, 2016, election day, and the winner of the two candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, will be decided today.

The line started building up at the precinct before 6:30 that morning and reached all the way from the door to the front entrance of the Lafayette County Health Department.

By 7 a.m. the parking lot in front and behind the building was full of vehicles of all colors, and vehicles lined the street the runs in front of the building as well.

At 6:59 a.m. the doors were unlocked. Even though it’s a few minutes early, the first voters to go in don’t come out that quickly, but when they do, their faces are filled with happiness and relief that their vote has been cast and their part is done.

Over the next hour, the line continues to gain more voters, but even as they leave, the line never goes down.

A voter that’s been in line for a while sticks his bandana covered head back out the door and shouts, “If your last name starts with A through K you are in the left line, and if your name starts with L through Z you’re in the right line. I just wanted everyone to know that way this could go faster.”

Several minutes later the man comes out of the precinct, thanks everyone in line for coming out to vote and then he gets in his car and leaves.

About the same time, a young voter comes up and gets in the A through K line. Green colors the tips of her hair, and she is dressed in casual clothing. Whitley O’Neal, 26 and works at the Ford Center at The University of Mississippi, has come early to get the voting over with and out of the way.

“I’m ready for it to be over with,” O’Neal said. “It’s been a really long process, and it’s been really exhausting just watching the candidates go at each other. I’m trying to be (confident that who I’m voting for), but I’m not 100 percent. It’s been a long 15 months, but I’m kind of excited though, if the right person wins.”

The line starts to shrink at this point, but the A through K line is taking a lot longer to get through the doors than the L through Z line.

Another young voter by the name of Luke Phillips, 22 and a full-time student at The University of Mississippi, stands by the curve of the precinct waiting for the person he came with to come out. It has started to rain again, but Phillips just pulls up his hood on his jacket and continues to wait. Phillips has already been inside and voted.

“It’s been pretty crazy (the election),” Phillips said. “A lot of stuff has come out about both candidates, and it seems to just keep going.”

When asked if he thinks the candidate he voted for had any chance of winning, he said no.

Machines keep the ballots tallied, and using them can sometimes be an aggravating process, but not for Phillips.

“It was pretty simple (using the voting machines),” he said. “You put in a card, and then the screen showed all the candidates. Then you picked someone or you could write someone in.”

Around 7:45 a.m. the line is half the size that is was when the polls opened for the morning, and Brady Bramlett, 23 and works for Ole Miss athletics, gets out of his vehicle. He is dressed in the light blue shirt with the Ole Miss logo on the front, khakis and loafers.

Bramlett thinks that this election has been drawn out and has made many people upset and angry. “I think today is going to alleviate a lot of that,” he said. “Hopefully after this, our country can get back on the right path. Today I’m voting for the person who I think could get our country back on that path.”

He said he believes the right path would be a push in the direction of less hate in the world than what there is now.

A graduate student in the psychology department with The University of Mississippi, Shilpa Boppana age 27, exits the precinct and says she is glad it’s over because this election was a nightmare.

She said she felt like she was only in line for 10 or 15 minutes and that casting her vote was really easy. Out of all the voters who have been interviewed this far, Boppana is the only  one who said who she voted for.

“I think Hillary will win,” she said. “From what I’ve read, the forecasts are more pessimistic for her. Her position is worse than what Obama’s was. I’m a little worried, but I think she will (win). There’s always some doubt.”

She said that she voted for Hillary because Trump is “racist, sexist and he doesn’t stand for anything I believe in.”

“I’m actually really excited to vote for a woman for president,” Boppana said.

Shift 10 to 12: Aimed at mid-age voters

As the morning began to get later, the rain from the day before started to disappear from people’s vehicles and the pavement. While the precinct is not as busy as it was as soon as it opened this morning, there is still a long line just inside the doors.

The parking lot is still mostly full on both sides of the building, and the vehicles are mostly silver and white and blend in with the still overcast sky.

Voters are continuously coming and going at this point, and many take the opportunity to say good morning or hello to the students sitting 30 feet away from the door collecting data for their political science class and to myself.

One voter, Calvin Pinson, age 38, has brought his grandmother to Oxford 5 precinct to let her vote. He has yet to vote himself though, and has participated in 3 prior elections.

“There are up’s and downs on both sides because you have differences in opinions on both sides as to who you truly believe in and who can do the right job,” Pinson said.

He believes that the candidate he is voting for has a good chance at winning the election today. “For the people, if they look at the facts and the politics they will know who the right person to vote for is,” said Pinson.

Not a few moments after Pinson is finished talking, his grandmother comes out of Oxford 5 with another relative. Pinson’s grandmother had to go to the courthouse to get a picture I.D. so that she could vote.

Another lady comes out of Oxford 5 precinct and is very agitated. She has been voting at Oxford 5 for the past two presidential elections. She said, “I’ve been voting here for the past two elections, and now they tell me I have to go to another precinct to vote because they rezoned everything. They waited to tell me until after I had stood in line for 30 minutes. You’d think they would let people know when their voting precinct changes.”

She got in her vehicle and drove off.

If you are not voting at the precinct, and this applies to everyone at any voting precinct, you cannot stand within 30 feet of the door. A woman from the election commission came out and said that people were not allowed to loiter near the precinct, and people are not allowed to harass other voters going into the precinct.

A few moments later, the same lady comes out and adds more signs pointing to where people should enter to vote, but many people still try to enter in through the health department.

A voter dressed in scrubs, David Allen age 45 and a nurse, exits the precinct after having voted for the year. Allen has voted every year since he has turned 18.

“It’s a little disheartening about the system,” Allen said. “I felt like the public that’s been encouraged to go out, participate and vote were steered in directions from all sides. They were steered to support people that they may or may not have really felt like were the best candidates.”

Allen said he wasn’t confident that his chosen candidate would win. He also expressed his opinion in how the election is run.

“I think this (this year’s election) is a clear indicator that we need some serious election reform and the way the system works. I think that the Electoral College needs some work. I think that the voting process needs some work. I think there needs to be some federal consistency in federal elections and more consistency in how all 50 states vote. Each state shouldn’t get to decide in a federal election how they handle the process. It should be standardized across the United States in federal elections.”

As lunch is starting to get closer, Oxford 5 starts to become busier than it had been being for the past few hours. The line is starting to stretch out the door once again, and many of the people coming to vote now are moms, babysitters and grandparents. They bring the children along with them. There have been several babies is red, white and blue, and one family walked hand-in-hand all the way to the door so that the parents could vote at the same time.

Another nurse, Amanda Sherman age 31, finishes voting and starts walking back to her Jeep.

“I think it’s (the election) going to be historic either way it goes,” she said. “It’s interesting to see what changes are going to be made and people’s reactions to decipher what’s true and what’s not true because the media has blown stuff up. I believe there has been a lot of propaganda. I’m curious to see how everybody’s education level pans out in the voting. I guess we will see tonight.”

Sherman believes that the candidate she voted for has a strong chance of winning, “This day? Absolutely. Yes.”

Almost everyone that comes out of the precinct is given a sticker is they wish to take one. Even the kids are given a sticker since they came and ‘voted’ as well.

The clouds in the sky break up some and shine a little light through. Most of the people coming in now are older and elderly. The handicap spots which were empty earlier this morning, stay full now.

Shift 12 to 2: Aimed at the elderly

Jerri McDaniel, 60, gets out of her car and walks into Oxford 5 precinct. She has short cut hair and glasses that have blue dualies (a cord used to help keep glasses secure) attached to the ends of her glasses and tucked behind her ears.

After several moments, she comes back out and starts to walk back to her car.

“I just thought the whole way that both candidates conducted themselves was an embarrassment to our country,” McDaniel said. “Like many Americans, I was glad that it was finally over with when today came.”

McDaniel is retired teacher and now works part-time. She said she has no idea is the candidate she chose to vote for will win the race because it’s hard to tell.

“Honestly, I got so tired of seeing all the terrible ads and all the mudslinging, I didn’t even get on Facebook for the last week or so because there was so much yah yahing and back and forth,” she said. “I hope whoever wins tries to pull the country together and help us be the country our four fathers intended us to be.”

As the sound of 18-wheelers over take her, McDaniel is getting in her car and getting ready to leave. At the same time, Richard Brooks, age 61 and retired/disabled, comes out of the precinct with his walker.  

Brooks has voted in every presidential election since 1972, and this year he is confident that the candidate he voted for will win.

“I think it’s (the election) the most divisive campaign that’s yet to be run in this country,” Brooks said. “I’m not sure it really matters who wins as far as that goes. We’re still going to be pulverized.”

When it comes to the election results, many are afraid that the outcome, no matter who wins, will not be accepted.

“A lot of people are not going to accept Hillary getting elected, and a lot of people won’t accept Trump either,” said McDaniel. “My plans are to move to Canada if the son of a bitch wins. It’s been ugly politics, as ugly as it can get, and yet it’s not going to end today. It’s far from being over and the ugliness will continue. I don’t think a whole lot is going to get done in the next four years either.”

The election of 2016 is finally here! No matter who wins today it will mark yet another day in history for the presidential election. The polls here in Lafayette County are opened early for all voters to get a chance to get in and vote.

As of yesterday at 9:30 p.mm the percentage of predicted votes for Hilary Clinton was 275 while Donald Trump had 215. Today will be a very interesting as the election is followed. Not only to see who will win but how close or far the votes will be.

The first person that was in line was a man that went by the name of Mike. Mike was the standing in line at 6:51 a.m.. According to Mike, “he was always busy and he had to go to the polls early to start his day.” Everyone was full of smiles and jokes this morning. No one was in a bad mood as they waited for the polls to open. By 6:57 a.m. 10 people were in line. The conversations of the line for the first six people were mostly about the election. The people talked about how our state does not matter on the Electoral College. Many felt that their vote does not even count. One woman spoke of how only four states really matter for the election. Even more talk was how they feel that congress should get term limits and how nothing will ever really change unless congress starts to get a limit like the Presidents.  

One man whom was also one of the first in line talked about his happiness that it is finally all over he said, “I’m so glad it is over. All the hash out on TV is over. We use to be a better nation. All of our dirty laundry wasn’t aired.”

According to Amy, “I just came early because the boys have games. I have to cook dinner and do laundry. My husband is coming later today.” One man who seemed like he was in a rush had a little time to stop and talk. He said,” I am here this early because I work over in Tupelo. I get off at 8 p.m. so this is my only time to vote.”

By the time 7:17 a.m. rolled around there was no line outside. One woman who had just made it to the door was on her phone in one hand with her little boy in the other hand. The little boy was so excited about the apples his dad cut up for him that morning and his red Nike tennis shoes that he was going to wear to school that day when his mom dropped him off. The little boy could be heard telling his mother that he loved her as they walked up through the doors. The mom said she loved him back only in the sweet voice of a mother. According to the mother, “I was going to vote in the evening but it didn’t look like it was too crowded. I wanted to go ahead and vote. I have to call my doctor and tell him I am going to be a little late.” She was a nurse for the local hospital.

One thing that was extremely unique about the town of Yocona was that most of the people know each other. Because the town was so small there was chatter. Chatter about the town and all the things that they have going on. How work is going for everyone and how the church across the street is being newly renovated. A group of three senior citizens all gathered around in a circle and just stood there and smiled. One woman in the group said, ”aren’t you glad to be here to see it.” The other members of the group just stood there and smiled nodding their heads in agreement. One man in the group invited the other two members to go to his house to pick up some sweet potatoes. He invited them to just come drop by his home he does not even have to be home they are more than welcomed. When all three of them were interviewed they all said the same thing, “I came so early because I wake up early.” One lady had been up since 4 a.m. According to the sweet potato man, “I get up early and go. If the polls opened at 2 a.m. I would be here. I like to get out and don’t stay in. I get up and work on my farm. I have cows. I tended to them before I came here.”

It was three ladies with chairs sitting on by the side of the road with signs up for Brent Larson. Christy Lawson was up out this morning supporting her husband. “I have no choice to be out here. My husband is running for the Lafayette County School Board Member District One.    

I will be out here until 7 p.m. today coming and going. I am out here to support him.” Family friend Carla Davis came out with Mrs. Lawson to support them.

Many voters that were out this morning came mainly for the convenience and because they would not have time later this evening. They felt that tonight the polls would be packed with people trying to get in and vote at the last minute. Others said if they did not go this morning they would possibly forget to vote.

Lafayette County voters, dressed in their scrubs, suits and sweats, piled up to the doubled glass doorway at the Stone Center to cast the first votes of the day.

By 6:45 a.m. the small straight line that filtered down the sidewalk began to grow and twist like the body of a snake. The first voter in line, who did not wish to identify herself, 51, works as a local medical specialist in Oxford, and was ready to cast her ballot for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton before she had to report to work.

“The long waiting is finally over,” she said, dressed in a vibrant orange sweater, holding a half-opened book. “There are a lot of positions up for election today other than president, but I am excited to find out who our next president will be.”

The second voter in line, shared a similar mindset. A 51-year-old medical technician here in Oxford, who also did not give out her name, has been ready to cast her ballot for months now.

“I’m very energetic to vote today,” she said. “This country has been good in recent years, but I’m ready for further improvement.”

Both women noted that Clinton addressed the issues more head on than her counterpart, Republican nominee Donald Trump, and gave a more positive message to the masses.

“Hillary Clinton addressed the issues and appealed to bring this country together, not divide it,” the local medical specialist said.

She went on to add that she is trusting in God for this election, regardless of the outcome.

“I’m not really a nervous person. I’m a very spiritual person, and I believe God’s will will be done, and I’ll be at peace about that.”

The wet, damp atmosphere began to give up to the sun peeking through the clouds, and the parking lot was quickly littered with cars and trucks, some parking in the grass alongside the numerous yard signs reading:

“Clinton Kaine, Stronger Together”

“Trump Pence, Make America Great Again”

“Johnson Weld 2016, Vote Libertarian”

As the hour hand on the clock inside the polling station ticked towards 7 a.m. the poll workers eagerly sat awaiting the day long process of handing out and sending in ballots for submission, similar to an assembly line.

“I’m here, and ready to get this election cycle over with,” the medical technician said. With a cardigan covering her scrubs, and her cell phone in hand checking the time, she spoke with confidence.“I’ve been following the candidates closely for several months now, and the most positive person is the person we need.”

Both women agreed that if this election could turn back the clock, they would have liked to see more of a deep dive on policy matters, rather than the negative attacks that have dominated morning and evening news shows for over a year now.

“The top issues facing this country were not at the forefront,” the local medical specialist said. “I wish they [the candidates] were more about the people and less about the political game.”

As the poll workers opened the doors to the precinct on Washington Avenue, the steady flow of bodies moved from the cool outside, into the warm room lit by running florescent lights.

The two women entered and bubbled in the box for “Hillary Rodham Clinton and Timothy Michael Kaine,” for President of the United States.

They left fulfilling their civic duty and a souvenir to show, a sticker with an American flag with text saying, “I voted.”

It’s a cold, dreary morning in Abbeville, Mississippi. The rain is sprinkling down from the sky, it’s about 6:28 am and five people are already in line ready to cast their vote for the election.

The voting is taking place at the Abbeville Town Hall which is a run down building that looks like it has been there since at least the early 1900’s.

The poll workers are inside, rushing around trying to set up everything so that election day for them can go as smooth as possible.

When the rain started trickling down, the five people that were standing in line moved to a little overhead cover just above the entrance to the town hall.

This was to protect them from the rain because they were all dressed to head off to work right after casting their vote.

I told these first voters that I could not enter the address in google maps to find where this town hall was so I had to just drive to the town.

A woman spoke up and said “Yeah I mean, you just have to drive to this town and you can’t miss it,” the woman’s name was Kimberly Price

Price, a school teacher in the Oxford area, is the first person in line at the Abbeville Town Hall ready to cast her vote.

“I am the first voter of the day so that I can make my vote count but also because I have work and I don’t want to miss the opportunity,” Price said.

When asked about what she expects from this election, she really didn’t know.

“I don’t know, it’s a toss up, I have no idea,” Price said.

More cars started to pull up to the town hall, mostly trucks, treading through the mud that was created by the rain that by this time had been going on for about 20 minutes.

A husband and wife step out of the car and start walking up to the entrance when the woman said, “Hasn’t rained in 40 days and 40 nights but it decides to today,”

“Is this tears of joy God is crying or tears of sadness for what may happen today,”

The other voters broke out in laughter and made the scene a little less tense than what it had been all morning.

Now it’s about 6:50 am and a man by the name of Terry says that he doesn’t really think it matters that he is at the town hall voting today.

“I don’t think our votes really matter because they’re going to put in office whoever they want to,” Terry said.

Most of the other voters didn’t mumble a word but you could tell from their demeanor and facial expressions that they somewhat agreed with what Terry had to say on that subject.

At about 6:58 am you notice the line of voters has increased to where people are wrapping around the building now, just all waiting patiently to cast their vote and get to work.

7 am strikes and the poll workers start to let the first voters inside the town hall to fulfill their civic duty by voting who will be the next president of the United States.

A woman who wanted to remain anonymous is a poll worker for the Abbeville Town Hall and doesn’t really know what to expect from today with all the people because this is her first time being a poll worker.

“I just really don’t know what to expect today, don’t know how many people will turn out but I can tell you that I am ready for whatever comes my way,” she said.

The voters keep entering the building and just when the line seems to die down, 20 more people roll up to cast their vote and get their voice heard.

This is a busy day for the poll workers because they have been at it since about 6 am and will go until whenever all their work is done, which could be late.

At about 7:30 am, the rain stopped and a little sun started to come over the horizon which gave the impression of a brighter day ahead.

It was the rain, clouds, and people having to get up at 6 am that just made the mood around the Abbeville Town Hall a depressing scene earlier in the morning.

But as soon as the sun peaked out, you could see on the voters faces that they were a little more upbeat and ready to tackle the day.

Today is the day a new president will be elected into office and the country is wondering, who will it be?

As the sun rose over the small town of Taylor, MS, citizens gathered at Taylor Community Center to cast their votes for the presidential election.

The area was quiet.  It was about 7:05 and there were very few people who filled the parking lot, but one small lady, age 70, who asked to remain anonymous, was the first voter to walk onto the premises and cast her vote for the next president of The United States.  

“In all of my years of living, I’ve never seen a presidential campaign as nasty as this one,” she said.  “I come from an era where people respected one another.  My father praised Franklin D. Roosevelt.  This is sad, and while I won’t tell you who I’m voting for, I will tell you that Trump is just a disgrace to all Republicans.

Many of the voters were around her age and shared similar views.  Those who didn’t refused to speak and quietly went along their way.

Leonard Rockette, a native of Taylor, MS, said e’s feeling fairly optimistic about the election.  He thinks many things have gone a bit too far in some situations.  

“It’s a typical election,” he said.  “I think a lot of things have been blown out of proportion.  A lot of the things… Personally, it’s so divisive.  Hopefully everything turns out well.  It’s just an election.  It’s not a life or death situation.  So that’s what I feel about it.”

Rockette is a supporter of Clinton.  His views on Trump vary.

“The thing with him is, when you’re born into a certain elite area, it’s hard to relate to people who basically came from nothing, and around here that’s how it is,” Rockette said.

Ed Rockette, Leonards’ brother, also shared his view on the election sharing that he too is a Clinton supporter.

“I think Hillary is going to do a good job,” he said.  “I think she’s going to win. I think she would make a great president over Trump.  Trump doesn’t know how to handle his mouth.  I believe she’ll win by at least ten percent.”

Cars slowly filled the lot as others vacated, leaving space for an abundance of voters to come in.  An older couple stepped out of their 96’ Chevy Impala, smiling as they approached the building.  The two were natives of Taylor and both chose to keep their names and voting preferences anonymous.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this,” the husband said.  “There’s really no one to vote for, but coming from my era, we believe that every vote counts.  So that’s why we’re out here today.”

The wife said she agreed and hoped that the young people were going out to vote.

“Their voice really matters,” she said.

A retired war veteran was also in attendance.  He disclosed he isn’t fond of either candidate but supports Trump more than Hillary.  

“The election has just been too personal all around,” he said.  “They haven’t dealt with the issues that are facing the country.  I don’t feel very good about either candidate.”  

The 70-year-old war veteran shared that he thinks Trump has some pretty good ideas but doesn’t know how many of them would be implemented.

“I don’t know if he can pass the laws he’s trying to pass without the support of congress.  I don’t think very highly of Hillary.”

He also said the candidate, whoever is nominated, needs to focus on the economy, terrorism, and money being printed by the feds.

“They need to focus on immigration and the economy, whoever is elected,” he said.  “I haven’t seen any real solutions to either.  I don’t think we need to have an open border.  I don’t think enough has been done to create jobs for the country.  Feds have been printing so much money that I don’t know if it’s as strong as it could or would be.”

After over a year of grueling campaigns, voters in Lafayette county are now able to get out today and make their voices heard, as the future of their country rests in their hands.

On this chilly cloudy Tuesday morning, 30 minutes outside of Oxford, Mississippi off County Road 436, sits an old firehouse where potential voters, volunteers, and other workers sit from sunrise to sunset working the polls. For Carol Tuberville who has been volunteering for the past 20 years, she takes pride in her civic duty of helping people vote.

“Its a hot mess!” Turberville said. “I’m legally blind, so I can’t serve jury duty because I cannot see the evidence. I do this because it’s nice to have a role and help your community.”

Turberville lives about five minutes up the road from the firehouse. She gets the voting machines from the State Election Committee and helps set them up properly and the assigned location. However, she isn’t to fond of election. Tuberville first voted in 1992 in the Clinton-H.W. Bush election. Back in 1992, people were expected to vote.

“I enjoy helping people if they are having trouble with the machine. I truly believe voting is one of our most important civic duties.”, Tuberville said.  “People are complacent now, they are frustrated with the process. They are staying at home and not voting, which I think is wrong.”

Two more volunteers are Travis Patterson and Jonnie Sue Hollowel. Patterson is a     retired cattle, corn, cotton, and soybean farmer who volunteered because the election committee called and asked him to.

“I wish it was over,” Patterson said. “I don’t even know what to think, certainly I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I’ve been in Tula since 1964.”

Just like Patterson, Hollowel is a retired employee who used to be a nurse in the community. She too was called and asked to volunteer this morning.

“I don’t know which is the best, but I prayed for the best outcome for this country.”

The very first voter of the morning was Lisa Hillhouse, middle-aged female from Oxford. Together, she and her husband got up early to vote before heading to work. Lisa is a clinical therapist, and her husband Chris is a Facility Technician for AT&T. Lisa

Hillhouse says even through the crazy election year, she still voted Republican.

“Ultimately the deciding factor was military support and the abortion factor,” Hillhouse says.

Thomas Pierce is from Oxford and works for the city of Oxford Electrical Department. He too stopped by the voting station before heading to work in the city. His lack of enthusiasm for the election is evident when asked to describe the election.

“I will be glad when it’s over, I am tired of hearing about it,” Pierce said. “It’s a fool or a fool either way you go.”

The criticism of the candidates does not stop there. Martha Driver, a middle-aged African

American worker describes the election as “a mess.” Both she and her husband live in Oxford and she too trusted in the lord.

“It doesn’t matter who they put in, but I hope to see a woman in there because there have been a lot of men,” Driver said.

Driver’s reasoning is while she doesn’t trust Hillary, she thinks Trump would get us in more trouble because he doesn’t know how to talk to people.

Peter Heim is originally from Maryland, but moved south for family and work. Currently he works landscaping, but is looking to join the police force. A young Caucasian man in his mid-30s, this is the first time voting in the election.

“We are pretty doomed either way because four more years of Clinton means were done and Trump has no filter,” Heim said.

Although, he still believes this election is really important.

“I voted Trump because I don’t like Obama, and him supporting Clinton now when eight years ago he was bashing her is crazy,” Heim Said.

The fact that Obama is now campaigning for someone he was so critical now of eight years ago drew Heim out to vote in favor of Trump.

A physician from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Will Dabbs came in early to vote like many others before heading off to work at the clinic. Dabbs takes time to explain how his grandfather used to describe politics.

“Back in the way, there was Mom, Dad, apple pie, and the American Flag. Politics was simply ‘did you like the Democratic or Republican version of that story better?’,” Dabbs said.

“That is not the case anymore. There is no common ground or anything to negotiate anymore.”

Dabbs describes his past military service saying “at one point he would’ve died for this country.” However, he feels within current culture it is not cool to be American anymore.

“We have forgotten American Exceptionalism and what used to make us great.” He references how instead of extolling our founding fathers for their virtues, we point out their flaws. Overall, Dabbs describes the election as an extraordinary tipping point for the Nation.

Travis Patterson spent the past 30 minutes greeting people at the door on a first name basis with an overwhelmingly majority of the voters. Patterson plans to be here till after 9 pm tonight to finish the voting process of paperwork and matching votes.

“I’ll be proud when the day is over,” Patterson said.

Brian Romski

A sign that reads “Vote Here November 8th” stands in the lawn of the Oxford Mall, directing voters to the precinct. PHOTO BY: Alexis Neely

It’s 6:31 a.m. and as the sun rises in a pale gray and cloudy sky over Oxford, Mississippi, the first voters of the 2016 election patiently wait outside the doors of the Oxford Mall precinct.

All is still and silent as they slowly trickle in single file, peering through the glass at poll workers who are hustling to finish setting up, now less than 20 minutes away from having the first ballot cast.

Oxford High School biology teacher Kendedrick Jones is one of the first to arrive at the precinct. Jones said he wanted to go ahead and exercise his right early, because like the rest of the elections he’s voted in, he’s just ready for it to be over.

However, Jones couldn’t deny this election is an important one.

“I think this one is more important because of what the candidates stand for and how they have portrayed themselves or how they’ve been portrayed by the media since this election began,” he said. “I wanna vote for someone that is for me as an individual.”

Due to the nature of this year’s election, Jones said there will probably be more people showing up at the polls compared to previous years.

And with the country being the closest it’s been to potentially having a woman in The White House, Jones knows this election could be one for the books, despite being ready for the election cycle to end.

“I think it would be a good opportunity to change history, but other than that, I’m really just indifferent,” he said.

The doors of the precinct finally swing open at 7 a.m., as a poll worker greets voters with a bright smile and even brighter “good morning.”

As the line begins to crawl down the span of the sidewalk, an array of people can be seen—from those dressed in scrubs and workplace attire, to those accompanied by small children, as well as the occasional dash of Ole Miss paraphernalia.

One of the first few Ole Miss students to cast their ballot, senior managerial finance and marketing major Danielle Gray, has a busy day ahead of her and was sure to get her vote in early.

“I think voting is very important so I wanna make sure I exercise my right,” Gray said. “I don’t wanna be in line forever later tonight. I was just kinda freaked out about having enough time and how the lines would be.”

Though Gray also voted in and felt the 2012 election between current President Barack Obama and former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney was important, she said voting keeps getting more and more vital to our country.

“I think it’s one of those things where it’s gonna affect everybody depending on who gets in office and the policies they enact,” she said.

As for who that person should be, Gray said whoever is the best candidate.

“I don’t care who—like what race, what gender, ethnicity, anything,” she said. “I just want whoever is the best person to be there.”