10:50 a.m. | In Fremont County, voter lines and presidential anxiety LANDER—A line of voters huddled in the near-freezing temperatures just before polls opened at 7 a.m. in Lander. A little over an hour later, polling station manager Yesenia Nations-Iversen estimated that 300 people had already been in to cast their ballots — and a steady crowd continued to stream in.  After casting their ballots, voters told WyoFile they were there because of women’s reproductive rights, to protect freedom and because it’s their duty as citizens. Voters were circumspect when talking about the candidates they supported — a sign perhaps that they are fearful of judgment or retribution. When asked what impelled her to vote, Carol King of Lander admitted that the first answer to pop into her head was “to save our country.” She, like many voters, is very concerned about the presidential election, and was feeling jittery.  “I am so full of anxiety that I’m about to just cry like a baby,” she said. “I really want things to calm down in our country, and that we can all just get along.”  Lander pastor Darin Buse brought along his service dog, Brie, for “moral support.” Even in Wyoming, he said, where the overwhelmingly Republican population can make election results foregone conclusions, he believes everyone should vote their conscience. Along with the presidential race, Buse echoed the concerns of others when he said he is interested in the results of a local school board race. Though nonpartisan, that race has been divided on political lines. Mostly, he said, he cares about board members’ judicious concern of students.  “Their decisions definitely shape how our future is being formed,” he said.  Updated by Katie Klingsporn 9:53 a.m. | Windy election day off to a strong start in Laramie LARAMIE—Amid a high wind warning and temperatures hovering near freezing, voters stood in a line snaking outside the gym and into the blustery weather at Laramie High School this morning. It was about an hour wait, and at least one woman turned around, realizing she needed more layers.  There were at least a handful of bundled-up new voters in line, excited to cast their first official ballot. The Moore family was there with daughter and first-time voter Campbell who said, “I’m just excited to get out there and do the right thing and do what I can do through my vote. “I think everybody should vote,” she added.  Others had waited in line before, and wanted to make their voices heard in local elections — particularly the school board. That included Tolu Oduyomi and David Keto, both with kids in the district.  “I wish there were more choices for the school board,” Keto said. “I certainly understand the need for the budget cuts they’re having to make and it’s not easy, but more communication would make it more palatable, at least.” Further up the line, first-time vote Aurora Welker said she was excited to cast her ballot for Kamala Harris, saying she wanted to vote what feels right for her.  And still others talked about the property tax amendment, which Dennis Shannon felt was a good idea. Plenty of daylight left on Election Day, but the polls have opened with a bang. Updated by Madelyn Beck 8:40 a.m. | Voters pile into Carbon County polling station at dawn RAWLINS—Drifting snow and below-freezing temperatures greeted dozens of Carbon County residents who packed into the parking lot of the Jeffrey County Memorial Center at daybreak on Election Day as voting began at 7 a.m.  It’s likely many of those daybreak voters, arriving in this first hour of sunlight to cast their ballots, were then headed off to work.  During the 2020 presidential election, three in four Carbon County voters favored Donald Trump over President Joe Biden. Four years later the voted out-president faces the current vice president, Kamala Harris.  That race is expected to be tight, with potentially no victor declared on Election Day. Vote counts in the southcentral county of roughly 14,000 people, however, should be completed this evening.  In Carbon County, and across Wyoming, polls close at 7 p.m. Updated by Mike Koshmrl 6:28 a.m. | Wyomingites lined up around the block to vote on election eve Lines grew at polling locations around the state Monday, taking some voters more than an hour to cast ballots the day before the official election.  In Cheyenne, the line was “down the street and around the corner,” Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee told WyoFile. More than 42% of registered voters cast their ballots in person before Election Day, she said, and after adding mail-in ballots, early voting grew to 56%. The lines at the early voting locations were potentially 1.5-2 hours long at 2:30 p.m., Lee said, but people were being patient. Workers hadn’t seen lines that long since maybe 2016, she said. Early voter turnout was larger in 2020 but without the wait, however, because so many people cast their ballots through the mail, Lee added.  In Laramie, voters donned heavy coats and sweaters to wait in a line that snaked around the Albany County Courthouse to cast their ballots early. Some had already been there for over an hour by 3 p.m. Between those in-person go-getters and absentee ballots, county elections coordinator Stacey Harvey said half of registered voters in Albany County had already made their voices heard by early Monday afternoon.  On the opposite side of the state, Sheridan County Election Supervisor James Temple said his office has been staying busy, too, with more than 4,000 people — or nearly 40% of the total registered voters there — having cast their ballot by 9 a.m. Monday. There were just over 1,000 people who voted early for the primaries, he said, adding “it was an insane difference as to what we’re actually seeing now.” Statewide, around 100,000 residents — nearly 40% of registered voters — had cast their ballot by Friday afternoon, the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office reported. That easily outperforms early voting in this year’s primaries. Updated by Madelyn Beck 4:25 a.m. | Ready to vote? Check out WyoFile’s election guide. It’s Election Day, and if you’re still trying to do your homework, WyoFile can help. Our election guide features questions and answers from dozens of congressional and legislative candidates from around Wyoming, as well as information about the proposed property-tax constitutional amendment and judicial retention. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Not sure where to vote? The Wyoming Secretary of State’s poll locator can help.  Updated by Joshua Wolfson and Tennessee Watson The post Election 2024 live: In Fremont County, voter lines and presidential anxiety appeared first on WyoFile .