JACKSON, Miss.—Dark clouds gave way to scattered sunshine Tuesday morning as residents of Jackson, Miss., and surrounding municipalities headed to the polls to vote in the 2024 U.S. election. Though rain had replaced the sun by early afternoon, voters continued to stream into the churches, community centers and other facilities that doubled as polling locations on Election Day.
The atmosphere at many Jackson area polling stations was relaxed, even jovial, with some voters greeting one another outside the facilities and volunteers providing cheerful instructions inside. At one Madison County precinct, poll workers welcomed first-time voters with whoops and applause.
“Why not make it a party?” said Arlette Thompson, a polling manager at the Ridgeland Recreation Center precinct in Ridgeland, Mississippi. “They walk out of here feeling like it really was a big deal, and they will take that first-time experience with them for the rest of their life.”
Other Jackson area voters had less positive Election Day experiences. Some complained of long wait times and insufficient parking at precincts that had faced similar challenges in previous elections. Others highlighted a lack of signage and clear directions for residents with disabilities at certain polling places.
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Despite these obstacles, many residents said they were determined to cast a ballot in an election that could change the course of history.
“I could hardly get out of bed this morning, (but) this is a major race,” said Jacqueline Harper, a Madison County resident who braved arthritis and sciatic nerve pain to vote at her local precinct. “I would have crawled down here if I had to.”
Deja Vu in Madison County
More than two hours after polls had opened across Mississippi, the line outside the Mark Apartments precinct in Ridgeland extended all the way to the sidewalk next to Lake Harbour Drive. Many residents waited an hour or longer to enter the polling location, and some reported seeing other prospective voters exit the line without casting a ballot.
The Mark Apartments precinct is no stranger to long
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