Polls closed at 7 pm in Missouri Tuesday, one of five states hosting presidential primary elections.
At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Springfield, voters like Steve and Donna Brown say they voted Donald Trump as a counter to the traditional conservation candidates.
“The establishment’s had plenty of time to change things if they wanted to, and they haven’t, so let’s give somebody [else] a chance,” she said.
Steve Brown says while he’d like to hear more concrete ideas from Trump, he wants a candidate that’s not influenced by donors.
“He’s not beholden to the big wigs on Wall Street and all that stuff, like a lot of ‘em I think are, he just tells you the truth. Maybe he could do it in a more refined way than how he does it but I still like him.”
Mary Melton and William Welch don’t think Trump can follow through on his promises.
“He’s [Trump] is not very tactful at all,” Melton says. “Yeah I think he’s making too many promises that he can’t keep is what I’m afraid of,” adds Welch.
The two instead voted for Bernie Sanders, who they say has a better chance than Hillary Clinton to win in a general election against Trump and brings a good education strategy to the table.
For Susan Stonestreet, who cast her ballot at Delaware Elementary School, it was a struggle to decide whether to vote against Trump by choosing another Republican candidate or for a Democrat, she said.
“It was hard not to wanna vote for somebody besides the fool that we’re entertaining in our country right now. But I decided I would rather be positive,” said Stonestreet.
Stonestreet expressed a preference toward Hillary Clinton, but would be happy with either Democratic candidate as president.
“I wish she [Clinton] had a real clean slate like Bernie does; I give that [credit] to Bernie. But in terms of being capable of being of dealing in Washington and accomplishing things I just think she would probably do better.”
Don and Donna Shelangoski want to see Ted Cruz as the Republican nominee and next U.S. president.
“Because I believe we need to keep the constitution going and I think he’s the most constitutionalist man running,” Don Shelangoski said. “He’s pro-life also and very conservative, and that’s the way I feel.”
Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller says voter turnout could hit 45 percent, given this morning’s strong performances at the polls.
Dan Coen and Kathy White battled the lunch crowd at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Springfield today to vote for Trump.
“It was 2,000 [people] when I went it,” said Coen. “Yeah,” replies White. “This is the biggest turnout we’ve ever seen because we vote everthing.”
The two say people who want change in their government can’t do it unless they go out and vote.
“This is a very important election and I think a lot of people finally realize that,” White said. Adds Coen, “It should set the future – they should vote all the time in the future that they should have done in the past.”
KSMU and NPR news will offer live election coverage this evening from 7-10 pm.
