Exit interviews show voters passionate for their candidates, strongly founded in their faith

Published 10:19 am Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Voters in Vicksburg went to 22 precincts Tuesday to cast their vote for the next president of the United States. Just like the country, many local voters were split on who they supported and why.

In Warren County Hilary Clinton received 46.67 percent of the vote and Donald Trump received 50.93 percent of the vote.

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Most voters were torn on who they should vote for, but they committed to what they felt was their civic duty to vote.

“This is the most stressful voting period that I’ve ever had a chance to vote in, and I’ll be glad when it’s all said and done,” Gloria Lowe said. “God is still in charge. He will put the best person in, not us.”

No matter who won the election, she just hoped that there would not be chaos across the country in response to the outcome and that no one will have to live in fear.

Some voters were thinking about some of the controversy that has plagued this election. Susan Wilson said the Benghazi attack while Clinton was secretary of state and Trump’s treatment of women was in the back of her mind as she prepared to vote.

“It’s just been crazy this year. Everybody’s trying to say something bad about the other person. I’m going to go in here, and I’m going to vote what my conscious tells me to vote,” Wilson said.

From the people Robert Shelton has spoken to, he has heard many are really voting against one of the candidates instead of for a specific candidate. He said it is hard to know how Trump or Clinton would do as president until they are actually in office making it a little bit of an easier pill to swallow if his candidate loses.

“If (my candidate) loses we’ll never know what would (have been) done so we can’t worry about it,” Shelton said.

All the fighting between the candidates made Ralph Lick not even want to vote this year.

“And I vote every time,” he said. “I’m not particularly fond of Trump or Hilary.”

He doesn’t feel like there has been a good candidate for president for many years.

However, Lick did eventually make it out to the polls and cast his vote Tuesday afternoon.

“A lot of people aren’t going to some out because they don’t have anybody to vote for. I never miss voting, though I sure thought about it this time,” Lick said.

Elks prescient poll worker Sandy Vickers was impressed with the turnout during Election Day in Warren County, and she hopes all the other polls had just as many voters.

“I am so glad that people care enough to come out and vote. That’s wonderful to see that,” Vickers said.

Geraldine Brown was frustrated because her name wasn’t listed at the Jett precinct where she always votes. She had to vote on a paper form instead of using the voting machine. Brown said poll workers told her they were aware that some names were missing.

“I had to write mine down, and I don’t think that’s fair,” she said. “She (the poll worker) admitted that they have some pages (of names) missing. That’s not right.”

Brown voted for Clinton because of her prior political record and the experience she brings to the position.

“She’s already familiar,” she said. “I pray to God she wins.”

Many voters like Brown had made up their mind ahead of Election Day for whom they thought would make the best president.

Sidney Meacham said he feels this election season has been wild. Because he is a Republican, he said he decided to give Trump a chance.

“I voted for him because he is a republican,” Meacham said. “I don’t agree with everything he does, but he’s got to be a pretty good business to stay atop of being a billionaire.”

Phylis Cowart said she is voting for Trump because Gov. Mike Huckabee and Dr. Ben Carson endorsed him.

“They are fine people in my opinion and that led me to stay with (Trump). I don’t like everything he’s said, nobody does,” she said, adding she thought Clinton might win.

Foster Story said he was voting for Trump because Clinton has been in politics for 30 years and hasn’t done very much.

“We need a change,” he said. “I think Trump is going to win.”