UPDATED: Dexter Voters Head to Polls on Election Day

Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout the day on Election Day.

Lines of voters snaked out the door at polling locations across the Dexter area on Tuesday morning.

As of 7:30 a.m., the parking lot at the Dexter Senior Center was full to capacity, forcing residents to park on the side streets before voting.

Resident Kassandra Harrington said standing outside in the cold weather for more than 20 minutes was worth the wait.

"Having a voice in the decisions that affect our communities is important," she said. "I think there is a lot of needed change both at the local level and at the state and federal level."

Chris Gordon, a candidate for the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education, was on hand to greet voters.

"It's been really busy," he said. "There's been a nice constant stream of folks coming to vote."

Jim Carson, candidate for Dexter Village president, said he was the 23rd person to vote, along with his wife, and said he was impressed with how quickly and efficiently the process went.

"There are 22 polling stations set up inside the senior center," he said. "I think that helps a lot with traffic control."

Dexter Village President Shawn Keough said he started his morning by setting up campaign signs in Webster Township before heading to the senior center to greet voters.

"I just got a call from my mom and dad wishing me good luck today," he said.

Keough said he will spend his morning visiting polling locations in Webster Township and Dexter, before voting later this afternoon.

"It's too early to tell how the election will go," he said. "I'm very pleased with the response from residents during my door-to-door efforts during the campaign."

3 P.M. UPDATE:

Webster Township Clerk Mary Dee Heller said voting lines have remained steady at the township hall. As of Tuesday afternoon, the township had 1,466 absentee ballots returned, and 1,900 ballots cast.

"We have a fantastic turnout," Heller said. "I think every community is doing well as far as voters. We had people here before 6 a.m. waiting for the polls to open."

Heller said despite the long lines, election volunteers have kept the wait times to a minimum.

"Everything is running smoothly," she said. "I couldn't do this job without the volunteers."

In Scio Township Precinct 6, election coordinator Ruth LaCoe said roughly 626 ballots had been filed as of 3 p.m., with another 50 absentee ballots already counted.

Scio resident Amanda Jordan was one of the residents to cast her ballot on Tuesday.

"You have to vote," Jordan said. "I feel like the 2008 election was a big push to the young people, and that message got through. We have to continue to vote."