Voter traffic steady at Cape Girardeau polling places for Missouri primary

Cape Girardeau County voters turned out for today’s presidential primary. Election judges at several large precincts said turnout was steady throughout the morning and early afternoon.

At the Jackson Elks Lodge, more than 800 voters in the Byrd 3 and 4 precincts had cast ballots before noon.

Election judge Pat Abernathy, who has worked in polling places for over 50 years, called turnout “very good.”

She added, “I was surprised. I didn’t think there would be near that many.”

Voters lined up before polls opened at 6 a.m. at the Jackson Junior High School.

“I am glad for heavy voting,” said election judge Ruth Ann Sander. Some 600 of the 3,421 voters in Byrd 5 and 6 precincts cast ballots by midday.

Steady turnout also was reported at polling places in Cape Girardeau.

More than 600 people voted at La Croix United Methodist Church by early afternoon. The precinct has more than 2,400 voters.

“We are tickled,” said election judge Deborah Brewer.

At the Arena Building, more than 1,000 people had voted by midday in the two polling places on the arena floor combined. in the two precincts. Election supervisor Carol Sparkman described turnout as “excellent.”

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said the weather helped in drawing people to the polls.

Jackson resident Greg Yielding voted for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump before spending his lunch hour holding up a Trump sign at the corner of Main and Hope streets.

“I believe it is what the Republican Party needs and what this country needs,” Yielding said, adding he views Trump as a conservative.

Yielding said he likes Trump’s business background. He defended Trump against those who feel his rhetoric has sparked violent protests at political rallies.

“He is not the problem at all,” he said.

Yielding, who describes himself as a student of history, maintained the heated GOP contest is nothing new in politics.

At the Arena Building, Vicki Voszler voted for Trump.

“I think we need a shake-up in the government,” she said.

Ken Snyder voted for John Kasich in the GOP contest.

“I like the man,” he said upon leaving the Arena Building, insisting that was enough reason to vote for the Ohio governor.

Ray Charles and his son, Ray Charles Jr., said they voted for avowed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders because they believe he wants to help the working man.

“I support him for that free education,” the father said, referring to Sanders’ plan to allow people to go to college free of charge.

He added he doesn’t care if most Democratic elected officials favor Hillary Clinton.

“Superdelegates never came here and asked me what I thought,” he said.

His son added Sanders “cares about my life.”

But at the Kingshighway entrance to Arena Park, voter Cheri Adcock held up a sign supporting Texas senator Ted Cruz. She said Cruz is a “true, Christian conservative.”

Adcock said she also prefers Cruz because “he will get rid of a lot of regulations.” She said government regulations are “choking our economy.” His plan to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and implement a flat tax also factor into her support for him, she said.

Pertinent address:

210 N West Ln, Jackson, MO 63755

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO