OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Early in-person voting in Douglas County is drawing lines election officials have never seen before.

The Douglas County Election Commissioner predicted a slightly lower turnout this year than the last presidential election, but after seeing the line today, he told 6 News he wouldn’t be surprised if voters beat his prediction and beat the 2020 turnout.

Many knew there would be a long line…some bring coffee or a book.

Reginald Brown brought a chair.

“It’s going to be a long wait today, but it’ll be worth it as long as I can get my vote in.” Brown said.

There are approximately 363,000 registered voters in Douglas County. This is the only place I can go to vote early in person.

Elizabeth Carollo hoped people would sleep in and that game day for Husker football fans would work in her favor.

“We went back a few times during lunchtime after work and it was quite long. We thought on Saturday morning, who would wake up on Saturday morning and vote. And I’m here,” Carollo said.

About 500 people stand in this line that stretches into the nearby neighborhood.

Carollo said he arrived at 8 a.m. when the office opened and took about an hour and a half to cast his vote.

“Even though the line is very long, it goes pretty fast.” Carollo said.

Still, if people didn’t arrive when the doors opened, Elections Commissioner Brian Kruse estimated there was a three-hour wait Saturday.

Marie Ohlinger didn’t have to wait like everyone else. They came to her.

That’s because he’s a hundred years old.

“This is a bigger, more important election than we’ve ever had in the United States.” Ohlinger said.

Even if he hadn’t helped her, she says she would have stood in line.

If you plan to vote on Election Day, polls in Douglas County open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.

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