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.”