You may encounter long lines at polling stations across the New Orleans metro today.
At the Second District Fire Station in downtown New Orleans, some voters waited in line for as long as an hour to cast their ballots. However, the voters we spoke to said they didn't mind the wait. That's because they say it shows people still care about the civic process.
Lillian and Susan live in the Warehouse District and vote at the Second District Fire Station on Girod Street. They said on a normal election day, only two or three people are in the polling place at a time. On Tuesday, the line to vote stretched from the ballot boxes inside the fire station's garage to the intersection of Girod and Carondelet Streets.
They said the line they encounted this morning wasn't as much of a problem for them as it was for their dogs.
"We were shocked," Lillian said.
"We have never not been inside when we voted there," Susan added. "We walked the dogs. We didn't bring water. The firemen were sweet. They gave us water and dog treats."
The long lines are giving Lillian and Susan hope for the future of our country.
"We're glad that people are out voting," Susan said "That's the main thing. Everybody's voting."
Francis Jarrott agreed with that sentiment. He's been voting at the Second District Fire Station for five years, and he says he doesn't ever remember it being this busy on an election day. A woman in line before Jarrott described the scene as a "civic party," and Jarrott said he enjoyed being part of it.
"I'm impressed that everyone is coming out to vote. Yeah. I think it's good," Jarrott said.
