Early voters will have to wait several hours in Lee's Summit for the second day in a row

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (KCTV) – Early voters in Jackson County faced wait times of up to 3.5 hours Saturday in Lee’s Summit at the Ranger Rec. Building.

It was the second day in a row with long waiting times at the location. Jackson County Board of Elections Director Tammy Brown says Jackson County is voting like never before.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in all my years,” Brown said Saturday. “Presidential or not, I’ve never seen a turnout like this.”

With some wait times lasting more than three hours, people needed something to do. Many struck up conversations and left with new friends.

“It took a long time, but it didn’t seem that bad,” David Collins said. “We talked, time passed and everyone seems to be nice people here.”

“We met some great people, very entertaining,” said first-time voter Tracy Trussell. “They let us go to the toilet, they let us get a little scone. So yeah, that was great.”

Despite the long wait, voters told KCTV5 it was important for them to stay and do their civic duty.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Amy Schenk said. “This is the election of a lifetime. Two very different candidates, two very different ideas.”

“I think what we’re doing is historic and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Collins said.

The Jackson County Board of Elections told KCTV5 that the county’s voter turnout record is nearly 80% and that the county could break that record this year. One first-time voter said she wanted to make her voice heard in this election.

“I used to think my vote didn’t count,” Trussell said. “It didn’t matter if I voted. I’m just one person. But if enough ‘one of us’ does it, it becomes a movement.”

Officials with the Jackson County Board of Elections said the long wait times were due to staffing shortages. About 100 people voted per hour at the Lee’s Summit location.