Editor’s note: Election Day results were not available by press time. Results will be posted online at ddtonline.com.
Election Day 2020 in Washington County brought about a cool, brisk morning followed by a bright sun and blue skies.
It also brought about a crowd of Washington County voters eager to cast their ballots as they formed impressively long lines around the polling places well before they opened.
By mid-morning, some polling places across the county seemed to be moving at a steady pace with short lines.
There were some voters who took advantage of the curbside voting accommodation as well.
Voters of varying ages, colors, creeds and walks of life exited the precincts proud and content knowing they have performed one of the most meaningful duties as it pertains to civic engagement.
“I just want to see change,” Michael Johnson said.
“The last four years have been good to me,” said another voter who wished to remain anonymous.
With both of these Washington County voters see the current state of the country with different eyes, what these two voters do have in common is the willingness to vote and the belief that voting makes a difference.
Johnson, 22, voted for the first time Tuesday and he said it gave him “a good feeling” to know he could do so.
“I got a chance to let my voice be heard and vote for who I wanted to vote for,” he said. “With 2020 being the year that it has been and so much going on, I just want to see change. That’s my word for the day — change.”
Johnson said from now on, he intends to vote in every election that is held.
One District 4 voter said she started voting when she was 18 and has voted in every election since then.
“I think that voting is very important because our ancestors, grandparents and great-grandparents died so we can vote and I don’t want to let them down,” she said. “It’s a historical election and I want to be a part of it so when the children ask in the future, ‘What have you done to help out?’ I want to be able to tell them we voted and we won.”
She added that she did not like the atmosphere of the country now, nor the division in America.
“If we stand together, we can do everything we want, but in division, we’ll never get anything accomplished,” she said. “Another reason I’m voting is so we can keep affordable care for everybody. Everyone needs health care, especially in times like these and in the middle of a pandemic.”
Adrian Azar, who is a first time voter in a presidential election, said he feels his vote this year is more significant than those prior.
On voting, Azar said, “I was definitely glad to do it. Hopefully what’s best for our country will happen. It’s been a pretty hectic year, but I’m just glad to play my part.”
Cedrick Moore said as far as the senator he voted for, he’s hoping that individual can help to significantly improve Mississippi’s economy, particularly Greenville’s.
“Here in Greenville, we need more jobs and even the minimum wage is still low, so they need to increase that,” he said. “They need to bring more businesses in so people can have more jobs; people are leaving because there’s nothing here.”
Moore added as far as what he’d like to see from the elected president — equality.
“Just equal rights overall, even when it comes to pay between blacks and whites as well,” he said.
Terry Harris said he voted for Joe Biden is because he’s a veteran.
“There’s really a change in the way this country looks to the world,’’ he said,” adding he believes Biden can help to turn that around.
Harris said although he’s been a Democrat all of his life, he votes for those who are not Democrat as well, especially if he believes they can help to change things for the better.
“The Delta is dying and all of our young people are moving away … the only way we can get it back is if the whole Delta unites together and bring companies here so young people can think twice about leaving,” he said.
One District 5 voter said for almost 100 years, black people have been voting for Democrats, but for reasons important to him, he decided to vote for President Donald Trump.
“Democrats have been committing genocide on African American babies through targeted abortion. Our education is bad, housing is bad and our young black men are mass incarcerated because of Democratic policies,” he said, adding Democrats have been taking the African American vote for granted.
Washington County resident Corben Washington said he voted for Initiative 65 instead of Initiative 65A because of the possibility of high taxes set on medical marijuana by the legislature.
“I’m all for it, especially if it helps people with chronic medical problems,” Washington said.
