Watch CBS News

Detroit-Area Voters Reflect After Casting Ballots: 'I'm Just Glad It's Over'

DETROIT (WWJ) - The campaigning is done and now, Detroit-area voters are making their voices heard.

Warren resident LeAnna Gorney knows voters won't always see eye-to-eye, but she's glad they can come together when it matters most.

"It may be just a real turning point in this country," Gorney said, before explaining how she came to her decision. "I look at the character of a person and I ask the Lord to help me. That's what I did and I'm not afraid to say that."

Farmington Hills resident John Summerville brought his young son to the polls to experience one of his first elections.

"It's just been a brutal, vicious, horrible election year. I think it's an important year for setting the direction of the country and it's going to be interesting to see what happens," he said. "Especially thinking about his guy, what the future of the country is going to be like."

Southfield voter Shep Shawn said he's been able to look past the negativity surrounding the election, but he wonders if it will hurt voter turnout.

"I was hoping we could look beyond it but, I mean, those with clear minds can, those with a little bit more intelligence can," he said. "But those that don't, you know, more power to them."

Despite all the negativity, Sterling Heights resident Louisa Recchia says this election is doing one thing she hasn't seen presidential candidates do in quite some time.

"I see a lot of young kids involved and engaged," she said. "Good or bad, they're involved and engaged and I have not seen that in a long time."

Similar observations were made in Royal Oak, where residents like Christy Strawser said it felt more like a community celebration than an election day.

"Actually it felt like a very festive atmosphere to me. People had their kids, there were a lot of moms with their babies, couples, people were really chit-chatting not about the election but about their days and what was happening," she said. "It just felt like a really good positive atmosphere."

One of those young people, a Southfield resident who did not want to give her name, said the candidates are what made her feel compelled to vote in her first ever presidential election.

"At first I really didn't care. I was one of those people that I thought my vote didn't matter," she said. "But when I seen the type of person that we're going up against -- and I'm going to say his name, Donald Trump -- I had to do something. I felt like, OK, I'm going to give this a try and see how well my voice speaks."

Others, like Warren resident Tom Barrett, are just glad it's finally election day.

"It could have been over six months ago," he said. "I'm dead with the commercials and the phone calls, it just drives me up a wall. I'm glad it's over. No more campaigning."

Polls are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com will have continuing coverage of Election Day. Check back often for updates.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.