Three Rivers Area Voters Share Thoughts at Busy Election Day Polls

Polling station signs at the Fabius Township Hall on Broadway Road (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

Area polling stations have reported busy, steady traffic this morning for General Election Day. In the city of Three Rivers as well as in Lockport, Park, and Fabius Townships, officials said absentee voter ballot returns have been high, and in-person voters waited in lines that stretched out of buildings. At the Three Rivers polling station at Riverside Church, the line at opening time stretched all the way to East Michigan Avenue, and at 10:15 a.m. at the Lockport Township Hall, the line wrapped almost entirely around the building..

At the Lockport Township Hall Tuesday morning, voters lined up around three sides of the building and part of a fourth. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

Despite long lines, voters and officials said things were moving smoothly. Voters at the entrance to Lockport Township Hall said they had waited around 30 minutes to reach the doorway. At Fabius Township Hall, where the line was slightly shorter, voters approaching the sign-in table said they waited 20 to 25 minutes.

Lockport Deputy Clerk Rhonda Wright also worked as an election inspector this morning, and said out of 1,208 absentee ballots sent out, only 111 had not yet been returned. There are around 2,300 registered voters in the township. Regarding in-person turnout, Wright said, “I did not expect this. It would not normally be nearly as busy. We’re probably on pace to be at least double what it would normally be.”

Voters formed a steadily-moving line at the Park Township Hall. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

In Park Township, Clerk Pat Henderson said there was a line to get in right when polls opened at 7 a.m., but the line was moving smoothly, and the in-person voting process was “going very well.” Henderson said Park “is a great township. As far as voters go, everyone is happy and agreeable. It’s always a pleasure. We’ve had great help.” For the General Election, Henderson said there were “a little over 600” absentee ballots returned, and approximately 150 people had voted in person by 10:30 a.m. Turnout so far, she said, is about double what it was for the August Primary Election.

Carol Wilkins, the Fabius Township Clerk, said things were going smoothly at her location as well. She said the township has received about 1,200 absentee ballots, with a few more to count. Wilkins said there had been a line since 6:30 a.m., and “nobody’s grouchy, which is good.” As of 11 a.m., 304 people had voted in person. “Our workers are doing a great job. Everybody’s getting along. It’s going smoothly. At least we don’t have a car wreck out front,” Wilkins said, referring to an incident that occured during the August primary.

Sample ballots awaited voters outside the Three Rivers polling station showing local, state, and national races. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

In Three Rivers, City Commissioner and Election Inspector Pat Dane said, “we’ve had very good turnout. It’s been very smooth.” City Clerk Melissa Bliss said the polling station was “busy all morning. Very steady. The biggest thing is making sure visitors can get in and vote.” Bliss said there was an early morning rush, and at 11:30, she was anticipating a lunchtime surge as well. As of 11:35 a.m., 367 people had voted from Precinct Two, and 314 had voted from Precinct One.

Jennie Miller, who is working as an Election Inspector for the first time in Three Rivers, said, “it’s really interesting to watch the whole process. The checks and balances system really makes everything incredibly accurate.” Miller said she has a friend who worked the primaries and asked her if she had ever thought about serving as an election worker. Miller said she “contacted City Hall and filled out an application. It was a really easy process.”

Three Rivers voters cast ballots at Riverside Church. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

Voters at the various polling stations expressed a variety of feelings about the election. Anesha Butler was waiting in line to vote in Three Rivers shortly before lunchtime. “I just want coronavirus to be over with,” Butler said. “The kids aren’t in school, people are losing their jobs, and people are dying. I don’t have an issue with (President Donald) Trump. I think he’s been good for the economy, but he didn’t handle this virus well. I don’t want people to die. I am a small business owner, and the economy is important, but health has to come first.”

Amber Wilson of Three Rivers said her primary concern on election day is the potential for chaos. “It’s a worry. With preparations for possible rioting and looting, it’s nerve wracking.” Emily Bass, also of Three Rivers said, “I feel like this is one of the more important elections of our time. Both sides are adamant, so either way there is going to be controversy.”

Polling stations signage alerts voters about their rights and responsibilities on Election Day. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

Fabius Township voter Andy Johnson said, “I hope at the end of this, we all remain civilized, as America instead of as a divided country.” In Lockport Township, a voter who wished to remain anonymous said, “it’s going to fall the way it falls. One way or another, it’ll all work out.”

Another Lockport voter, Jonathan Anthony, said he is “just ready for it to be over. Whichever way it goes, I’ll be glad to be done. I’m just looking for a general sense of the nation to have some healing and moving ahead in a positive direction.” Lynn B. said, “you can’t please everyone. It’ll be the same either way.”

Fabius Township voters wait in line outside the Township Hall. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

The anonymous voter at Lockport Township Hall said he would be “voting pretty conservative across the line.” Although many local candidates are Republicans running with no Democratic challengers, the seats for Lockport Township’s clerk and treasurer positions are contested, as are the First and Second District seats for the St. Joseph County Commission. The anonymous voter said for those races, he “knows those people” and would be voting without regard to their party affiliation.

Two Lockport voters named Brian and Anita said they “hope for law and order.” Anita said she hopes for a “pro-life win.” Regarding local races, she said she had received some “paperwork to help with a decision, but you don’t see much. I’m using a pamphlet on pro-life candidates to make a decision.”

A sign, and its accompanying map, helps Three Rivers voters identify their precinct. (Dave Vago|Watershed Voice)

In Fabius Township, Ted Spiewak said he planned to vote for incumbent, Republican President Donald Trump. “Can’t wait to vote the Governor out, but we’ve got to wait two years for that. Michigan’s a beautiful state,” Spiewak said. “I’m a proud Republican.”

Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer was among those waiting in line to vote in Lockport Township around lunchtime. “I’m looking forward to the results,” she said. Lemmer said she thought local candidates “have done a good job of informing the public about what they stand for.” Due to the higher turnout for Federal-level races, Lemmer said she thinks the local races may better reflect a true representation of the electorate. “I’ve never voted before with a crowd this large,” she said.

Lockport Township voter Matt Kranczak said today is “a pretty pivotal election.” In Three Rivers, on his way in to vote at Riverside, a voter named Brian said, “it’s a good thing to exercise the right to vote. It’s the only way to change things.”

Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.