Houston County residents head to the polls on Election Day

Turnout in the county was at 58% heading into election day, meaning long lines didn't deter Tuesday voters.

PERRY, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Voters across Houston County headed to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballots.

Houston County played its part in the historic early voting numbers across Georgia. Turnout in the county was at 58% heading into election day, meaning long lines didn’t deter Tuesday voters. One election day voter was Cayley Hamborg. Hamborg says she waited to vote not because she was undecided on who to vote for, but whether or not to vote at all. She says setting a good example for her son played a major role in her final decision.

“This is my first little one,” Hamborg said. “And I’m trying to teach him that no matter what you believe, it’s important to stand up for it.”

Barbara Van Slyke says her son is a third-year student at Georgia Tech but is still registered in Houston County. She says he was excited to vote in his first presidential election, and being away from home would not stop him from doing so.

“He could not get home during early voting,” Van Slyke said. “We went up, took him his absentee ballot, and I just dropped it off here today.” 

Van Slyke called being able to participate in the democratic process a privilege and says it’s something her family will never take for granted.

“Part of what makes this country great is we get to elect our leaders every four years,” Van Slyke said.

Hamborg says the current political divides is part of the reason she was undecided about voting. She hopes that Houston County, and communities across the country, can come together when it’s all over.

“I just hope that whatever the turnout of this election is, we can just be united and loving,” Hamborg said. “And ultimately just remember that we’re neighbors and that we love each other.”