Warren County voters lined the sidewalks outside Living Hope Baptist Church on Thursday to cast their votes during the first day of no-excuse early voting.

Just across the street, political campaign supporters waved to prospective voters. According to Kentucky law, electioneering or campaigning is not allowed within 100 feet of any polling place on voting days.

As lines grew outside the building, troubles grew inside.

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A breaker in the wall malfunctioned early in the morning, perhaps due to the multitude of printers plugged into the same extension cord, according to Warren County Deputy Clerk Rachel Whitlow. However, she said the issue was fixed after about 30 minutes.

Whitlow said in the first hour the polls were open, 499 voters had submitted their ballots. By 4 p.m., a total of 3,440 voters had checked into the poll site. 

Here’s what Warren County voters had to say on the first day of early voting.

David Davis, 68, Democrat & Darlene Davis, 62, Democrat

David Davis said he votes every election season and believes civil rights are a prominent political topic in this specific election. 

“We want to make sure that we have a government leadership that understands, and are fighting for, what the people need, not necessarily what they think should be right for folks,” David Davis said. “It’s the folks who are running for office right now that drive the way we vote.”

David Davis said he’s voted both Democratic and Republican in the past, but chose the former this time at the polls.

David Davis said he voted early this year along with his wife, Darlene Davis, in case something comes up that would prevent them from being able to cast their votes on Election Day.

Darlene Davis said has voted every year since she was 18.

“Actually, it started a little bit before that,” Darlene Davis said. “I wasn’t casting my ballots, but I went into the ballot booth with my mom.”

Darlene Davis said she believes that civil rights, especially women’s rights, are important topics on the ballot this election.

“Civil rights, women’s rights, just being civic to one another, I think all of that’s on the ballot,” Darlene Davis said.

Dan C., 37, Independent

Dan said he’s voted every year since he was 19, and believes in voting to uphold Democracy as an oath to the Constitution.

Dan said he decided to vote early this year in hopes of avoiding the long lines on Tuesday.

Though he votes every election season, he wishes ranked choice voting and open primaries were integrated into the modern voting system. 

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According to Sightline Institute, ranked choice voting means, “Instead of filling in a bubble for just one candidate, voters are free to rank all candidates from most to least favorite.”

Teurice Tade, 60, Republican

Tade said she participated in no-excuse early voting this year to “beat the crowd.”

According to Tade, she believes the economy, border control, national security and Amendment 2 were all pressing issues in this election. 

On a national scale, she said the presidency is the most important section on the ballot this year.

Toccaro Mallory, 43, Democrat

Toccaro Mallory said she votes every election cycle. She said she feels especially strongly about issues regarding women’s rights this year. 

“I think we should have the right to do whatever we want to our bodies without the government interfering with that,” Mallory said.

Mallory said she was happy with the choices on the ballot overall but was not happy Donald Trump’s criminal record did not effect his eligibility to run for office.

“How can someone that’s a felon run as president but we got felons out here that can’t vote?” Mallory said.

Marty Hammar, 57, Republican

Marty Hammar said he does his best to vote during every election.

Hammar said he felt especially strongly about the presidential election. He said he liked almost all the Bowling Green city politicians on the ballot and said the city “takes care of itself.”

Hammar said he felt very satisfied with the options on the ballot this year. 

“They’ve all got some good ideas, they’ve all some bad ideas, just all depends on what you want to do,” he said.

Hammar said because he’s in the construction business he cares most about which politician can bring the most jobs and help America generate the most money. 

“It all comes down to money for me,” said Hammar.

Phillip Ciulla, 62, Democrat

Phillip Ciulla said he votes every election and decided to vote early because he is usually busy and didn’t want to wait until the last day.

Ciulla said he felt strongly about his decision to vote no to both Amendment 1 and Amendment 2. As explained on the state of Kentucky’s official website, Amendment 1 would make it illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote in Kentucky, and Amendment 2 would allow private schools to receive state funding.

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“(Non-citizen) immigrants can’t vote anyway so why do you need another law about that?” Ciulla said reagarding Amendment 1.

Regarding Amendment 2, Ciulla said, “Funding other schools, private schools, is just a waste of time it should be public education.”

Sydney Windhorst, 21, Republican

Sydney Windhorst was out of the country during one local election but said other than that, she has voted in every election she has been eligible.

Windhorst said she is globally conscious and looked for a candidate who could handle international affairs.

“I’m also very pro-life, so that was something that was important to me considering this election,” Windhorst said.

News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at [email protected].

News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at [email protected].