VANCOUVER, Wash. — The eve of Election Day drew parades of brake lights to ballot boxes in Clark County on Monday. Around the Clark County Elections office, voters also formed a long as they waited to correct various ballot issues in person, such as signatures not matching up. Others were registering to vote.
"We were like, 'We've got to go down and handle this,'" said a voter who goes by the name Kaz. "We didn't know the line was going to be. We've been down here two-and-a-half hours!"
"This was a long process, but we're glad we did it," said Tina Demham, Kaz's partner. "I've been voting since I was 18."
One of the most hotly contested races on their ballot is for Washington's 3rd Congressional District. The rematch pits incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez against Republican Joe Kent. On Monday night, Kent waved signs with supporters in Battle Ground.
"Folks hand us their ballots, we just got three here in the last little bit out sign waving so, it's really been just trying to drive turnout," Kent said. "Making sure people have gotten their ballots in, making sure they're verifying their ballots have been accepted."
Kent said his campaign has been checking voter data and calling or texting people who have not yet turned in their ballots.
"We've gotten a real opportunity," Kent said. "I think a lot of people want change, I think a lot of people know that things aren't right now and so it's important that everyone gets out there and votes!"
On Sunday, Gluesenkamp Perez held her final rally before the election. She urged voters to not wait until the last minute to drop off their ballots.
"The most important thing is that people get their ballots in," Gluesenkamp Perez said. "Look, people want us to be afraid to vote. That's not right. Real patriotism is based on getting our votes in, talking to our neighbors; it's not about un-friending people on Facebook."
By Monday night, voter turnout in Clark County sat at 57%, but was expected to increase considerably as all ballots were counted. Four years ago, total voter turnout was 85%.