WESTLAND, Mich. – Tuesday has been busy at the polls all across Metro Detroit.
Voters in Warren were seen casting their ballots on Election Day at the Fitzgerald Recreation Center, giving a sense of what it’s like and what is motivating people to vote.
“They’re excited to vote, and I think that’s going to matter,” said a poll chaplain in Detroit.
A handful of voters were out early Tuesday (Nov. 8) morning at Chrysler Elementary School near Detroit.
“You have such a small crowd here today,” said a woman. “Why? I’m accustomed to a lot of people. Having to stand in line.”
The woman is hopeful more voters will show up after work, which the poll chaplain echoed as he waited for more people to cast their votes.
“You could feel the weight of it, that it’s important to do this, and that’s why it’s different for me,” the poll chaplain said.
Everyone was motivated for different reasons.
“I want to reach out to the young voters,” said a woman. “That’s who is important. It’s our young people, and they don’t realize it.”
Students in Ann Arbor waited over two hours to cast their votes.
“I was over there (in line) when I started, and I was here two and a half hours,” said a female student. “So, it’ll take a while, but it’s worth it.”
Students at the University of Michigan were waiting hours on campus to cast their votes.
Priya Mann: “What do you think about the turnout?”
First-time voter: “It’s amazing. I love it. This is really motivating me to stay in line and vote.
“We have a lot of students who are registering the same day here, and it’s a decent wait, and we hope they’ll stick with us,” said a woman carrying pizza boxes.
“I’m at the Ford School for Public Policy, and I think voting is very powerful as everyone needs to make their voice heard,” said a male student.
A female voter who just turned 18 always thought it was grown-up to vote.
“I always thought it was so grown up of my parents to vote, and I’m excited that now it’s my turn to be grown up and vote,” said the woman.