Whitney Downard / The Meridian StarKeri Moore, 15, holds a sign for Kenny Griffis outside of the Meridian Little Theatre polling location Tuesday morning. 

Lauderdale County voters anxiously cast their votes Tuesday, electing public officials at the presidential, state and local levels.

Polls opened at 7 a.m., though many polling locations reported lines before opening their doors. After the initial rush, poll workers reported a steady stream of voters until polls closed at 7 p.m.

Central Fire Station experienced the initial morning surge of voters and a consistent number of voters through the afternoon. Around 5:30, nearly 10 voters showed up simultaneously but quickly finished the voting process in less than 10 minutes each.

“It’s record-breaking turnout,” said Carolyn Starnes, a poll worker. “We’ve had many first-time voters.”

Trinity Presbyterian Church also reported record-breaking numbers, with around 1,550 total votes out of the 1,600 to 1,700 registered voters at the precinct.

“It’s the best we’ve had,” said poll worker Ann Roberts.

Both Trinity Presbyterian and the Central Fire Station experienced some problems with voters at the wrong precinct but reported nothing more serious than that.

At 7:30 p.m., County Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson reported no serious problems at the polls.

“It’s been great,” Johnson said. “In fact, we haven’t even had any of our usual problems – (such as) poll workers being late.”

The only complaint voters had so far: no ‘I Voted’ stickers.

“A veteran’s group donated them four years ago,” Johnson said. “We’d love to have them and it’s something we’ll look into for the next election.”

According to the clerk’s office, there are 42 polling locations across the county – less than previous years.

“It’s one of the ways we’ve saved money,” Johnson said.

Poll worker Robert Dean had previously worked at the New Hope Baptist Church location before it was absorbed into First Baptist Church. Now voters for the two locations all vote at First Baptist.

Dean reported no problems with lines, saying, “They gave us more machines.”

“The presidential election brings out a lot of people,” said Dean, who reported a steady crowd from morning through the evening. “We had people before the polls opened.”

Dean reported four or five people waiting outside the church before doors opened at seven.

“After that they just kept coming,” Dean said.

Outside of Trinity Presbyterian, Ava Lightsey and her husband planned to vote for Trump.

“We’re voting for insurance,” said Lightsey, speaking for herself and her husband. “For everything that Hillary’s against. Trump all the way!”

Also outside of Trinity Presbyterian, Christopher Manning said he voted for Hillary Clinton, saying he believed she would be better for the country.

“If Trump won we’d have a big problem,” Manning said. “You don’t go around talking about groping women.

“I had to vote,” Manning said. “It’s a must.”

At the edge of Highway 39 North outside the Meridian Little Theatre polling location, Keri Moore held a sign for Kenny Griffis, a judge running for a seat on the state Supreme Court, greeting voters with a smile and wave as they drove into the parking lot.

“I’m a conservative and a Republican,” said Moore, whose homeschool group organized a group of teens to hold signs at various polling locations. “I just want to make sure people know who to vote for.”

Moore, 15, could not vote but planned to vote in future elections.

Tracy Towner brought her 8-year-old daughter, Ava, to the polls at the Meridian Little Theatre. Towner brought Ava to past elections, but this election was Ava’s first presidential election.

Towner said she brought Ava to the polls, “So she can learn the importance of voting, that she has a voice and she has the right to choose (a candidate).”