Election Day: Checking in with voters outside metro

Rainy Tuesday, 57 degrees according to the Fox 9 weather app. And when you look at the radar, yeah, that's what it looks like. So it looks like it's going to continue to be a wet Tuesday here. And so if you're headed to the polls, bring an umbrella. Let's head to Lauren Andrego at a polling place in Belle Plaine where you found somebody with an umbrella. Yeah, Rob, we've been struggling the last hour or so since the rain started coming down here in Belle Plaine. Fewer people are showing up to the polling place, and when they do come, they are running straight back to their car. So when I found Molly here with an umbrella, I asked, hey, do you have a minute? You look dry and like you might want to talk to me. Molly, thank you for your time. You've been living in Belle Plaine for how long? 26 years. 26 years and you are a teacher so you are on lunch break right now. Yes I am. Tell me a little bit about voting. How long did it take you to get in and out today? Oh I was in and out within like five minutes. Oh great and then just another five minutes for a reporter to bother you really quick. Tell me a little bit about why you decided to vote on election day versus early. We know a lot of people in Scott County voted early this year. Well you know it's the vibe so we want to Be out on election day and, you know, just kind of get caught up in our civic duty. Absolutely. It is a day to celebrate. Tell me a little bit about what you think are bringing people out here for midterms. Does it surprise you to hear that Scott County's kind of breaking records? No, it doesn't surprise me. We care a lot about our communities here and, you know, like we just want to take care of each other. So that's why we're here. Tell me about some of the issues that you think might be people bringing people to The polls, a lot of people wait until those presidential elections to vote. This is a midterm election. What are some of the issues that you think people are most concerned about this year? Well, I think in Belle Plaine, we're really concerned about our schools and the cool stuff that's happening and to make sure that spending is under control, but that our students are still being served. to the best that we can do absolutely something. I think a lot of people in a lot of parts of Minnesota can relate to. Tell me a little bit about ads that you've seen this year. Has it felt overwhelming? I mean, what has this season been like? Well, you know, I've gotten so many ads on my phone, like so many text messages. And I tell you what, that is not going to sway my vote, getting those text messages at all hours of the day. So yeah. And again, you're in a small town here at the end of Scott County and we care about people. And I think most of us are tired of the mudslinging. So So just be nice. Well said. Well said, just be nice. A great reminder. Do you mind if I ask, what grades do you teach? I teach fourth grade. Oh, you do. Okay, so they're kind of out of the election zone. What do they think about when it comes to election day? Do they know anything about what's going on? Yeah, we have mock elections and stuff in the classrooms. And yes, they listen to their parents, they're little sponges, they absorb everything. Yes, they do. And that's a great reminder as we think about that moving forward. Molly, thank you so much for your time today. Appreciate it. You're welcome. Thanks so much. A couple people showing up with umbrellas and rain jackets and rain boots today. But as we said earlier, Rob, things are definitely looking a little bit quiet, although it looks like we might have a little bit of a lunch rush this afternoon. As I said earlier, Scott County really showed up to early voting, 15% of this county locked in their votes before election day. But a lot of folks just like Molly like to do it. On the actual day, make an event out of it and spending their lunch break talking to reporters. Yeah, that is the interesting thing that you highlighted there in that comment is that there are people that want to go to the polls on election day as they always have part of the vibe. But then you see this huge shift towards the number of people early voting who clearly don't want to be, they still want to go vote, fill out a ballot in person just like election day versus an absentee ballot. But they want to avoid a potential lines or conflicts on election day, but others to say, no, this is what we always do. It's like opening presents on Christmas Eve versus Christmas morning. Exactly, Rob, every family is different. Every voter is different. I'll be heading to the polls this afternoon when I'm done with work. But a lot of reasons why you might want to show up early. And the only person I know who lives in the city of Belle Plaine, come on in here. Look who showed up to vote today. It's our photographer, Greg Kellogg, Belkland resident. I voted sticker. Yes, I voted. You voted? Yeah. Great. Rain, shine, or snow. Man, we talked to you like four minutes ago. You got in and out fast. If you know what you're doing, it's pretty easy. It's great to have your voice heard in a time like these. Absolutely. Well said. Is that your first soundbite on Fox 9? Maybe not. Maybe not. There it is. There have been others. Wow, you barely fit under my umbrella. Thanks, Kirk. Bye. Of all the places to run into a co-worker. Voters showing up on election day too, Rob. Yeah, all right. Here it is. How's the rain out there, by the way? 40 minutes away from work. By the way, now, is it? It is lightening up. It is lightening up. I can stand outside of my umbrella now, 30 minutes ago, Rob. It couldn't have been done, so. Good. Okay. Well, I guess it'll probably keep changing. Yeah. All right, Lauren. Appreciate it.