Homewood Library sees long lines on election day

Lines extended out of the building and wait times reached up to an hour this morning at Homewood Public Library's polling location as residents cast their vote on state and national issues.

The library serves one of the highest amounts in voters in Homewood, and high turnout trends across the nation seemed to be reflected as hundreds of voters tried to cast their ballots before work. The parking lot was entirely full, with some voters parallel parking wherever they could find room, and there were lines both to pick up ballots and to submit them.

At least one potential voter walked up, asked about the lines and decided to come back later. Another voter, who did not give her name, said she waited an hour to submit her ballot, which included a vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and a yes vote on Amendment 14.

"I didn't like it," Laneathia Parker said of her voting experience at the library.

Parker, who said she spent between 30 and 45 minutes voting, said the process was unorganized. She talked to a few voters who mistakenly waited in the wrong line and had to start over, and Parker said she felt like this confusion was discouraging voters.

By contrast, turnout at the Homewood Community Center polling location was lower and led to shorter wait times. A few voters interviewed as they were leaving said their wait time was 10 minutes or less and the experience was easy.

"They did a good job," Caroline Garrity said of the poll workers at the community center station.

Garrity voted no on Amendment 14 because she felt it was "too far-reaching," as did her husband Dan Garrity and fellow Community Center voter Ed Liberatori. Resident Shondra Whitt, by contrast, voted in favor of the amendment.

Many of the Homewood voters interviewed this morning expressed reluctance to share their presidential votes. Whitt only specified that she did not vote for Clinton, while the Garritys did not give any indication. These responses reflect a national trend of low enthusiasm for the two major party candidates, Clinton and Donald Trump.

"I think we have two horrible candidates and it's our own fault," Whitt said.

"It was a painful choice. It was the least excited I've been about a presidential candidate in my 50-plus years," Dan Garrity said.

Polling locations will be open until 7 p.m. today, and anyone in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Homewood polling locations are Homewood Community Center, Homewood Senior Center, Edgewood Elementary, Homewood Library and Shades Cahaba Elementary.

Visit alabamavotes.gov to find out where your polling place is and make sure you have the right documents in order to vote. If you have questions about any of the candidates or amendments up for vote today, be sure to review BirminghamWatch's voting guide before you head to the polls.