Hundreds of Utahns focused on the presidency and what that means for their future lined up to cast their ballots Tuesday for the 2024 election in Summit and Wasatch counties.While the political divide between counties remains clear — Wasatch leaning red and Summit County a longtime blue island in Utah — voters from Kimball Junction to Heber City echoed similar sentiments.For supporters of former President Donald J. Trump, it’s all about the economy.Those voting for Vice President Kamala Harris are most concerned about issues like women’s rights and rising housing prices. The choice was an easy one for voters like Kim and Erik Rash of Wasatch County. The couple stood in line at the Heber City Senior Center — Wasatch County’s singular in-person voting location — steadfast in their decision. They would both be supporting Trump. Kim and Erik Rash Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“Financially, the country is not doing great,” Erik said.Kim agreed, saying the economy is a “hot mess,” with rising costs on everything from groceries to gas. Both said they were confident that, as president, Trump would also be a stalwart advocate for the United States internationally. “He’s crazy enough that people from other countries will be afraid of him,” Erik insisted. “He’s volatile, and he’ll take action. Unlike her [Vice President Harris], he’s not a lifetime politician.”For Michael Coke of Summit County, Trump’s stance on international politics was as much of a draw for support as the former president’s economic policies. As a registered Democrat, Coke decided to vote outside of his party this election. Michael Coke Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“Most people take a side, but I’m pro-country,” Coke said. “Politically, Kamala is not my favorite. She’s wishy-washy and doesn’t have as strong a stance as Trump would in foreign relations.” Democrat or Republican, Summit and Wasatch County voters agreed that the 2024 presidential race has caused more division and anxiety than previous elections. “It’s an emotional topic when it shouldn’t be,” Sydney Snow said as her husband submitted his vote in Kimball Junction. With her daughter, Parker, 2, on her hip and another child due in less than a month, Snow said she has to think about what’s best for her family. But she’s not a fan of either candidate. Sydney, Parker, 2, and Sterling Snow Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“I wish there were some other options. The two-party system makes it hard. It turns it into us vs. them,” Snow said. “Disagreement is healthy. Division is cancerous.”According to Chris Bodily, who cast his vote in Summit County, the political climate seems “more divided than ever.” But he and his son, first-time voter Sebastian “Bash” Bodily, said they remain hopeful. “I’m excited to get to vote,” Sebastian said. As a Park City High School student, Sebastian is one of many first-time voters in his senior class. Despite his agreement with his dad’s statement on political division, Sebastian is looking forward to the future of his generation. As a quarterback on Park City High School’s football team, Sebastian will soon choose where to play football in college. Sebastian “Bash” Bodily, fills out neccesary paperwork prior to casting his vote at the Richins Building in Kimball Junction. Bodily, Park City high school senior and quarterback for the Miners, said that this was his first election to vote in and he came to vote with his dad. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“I have an overall positive outlook,” he said.“I’m honored to vote and be a part of the process — to continue democracy,” Chris added. “It’s great to come to vote and see so many people lined up.”By Tuesday morning, Summit County Clerk Evelyn Furse said her office had received nearly 20,000 ballots. While previous elections saw a 95% voter turnout in her county, Furse said this number of early voters is unprecedented.“Right now, we’re looking at having received two-thirds of the registered voters,” Furse said. Wasatch County saw similar numbers, with nearly 15,000 total ballots received by Election Day. According to Wasatch County Clerk Joey Granger, 1,069 ballots from in-person voters were processed by 1 p.m. on Tuesday. That’s in comparison to Summit County’s 610 in-person voters at the same time. In Wasatch County, voters like Stephanie Rea and Kevin Lucero waited their turn for nearly an hour before submitting their votes. When asked who they would vote for, Rea said that they hadn’t yet discussed their views on the election. Kevin Lucero and Stephanie Rea Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“I don’t think we’ve actually talked about that,” she said with a laugh.“I’m kind of screwed either way,” she continued, “In one direction, as a woman and a minority, I’m a little less screwed. I care about women’s rights and, in the other direction, my rights would be more restricted.”Rea was unsurprised to learn that Lucero would be voting for Trump.“I thought so,” she said.“It goes against how I voted last time,” Lucero explained. “I didn’t want to vote for him in the last election because he was so openly racist. … He painted us all [minorities] in a negative light.”Now, he said, the economy takes precedence over Trump’s unfavorable views. Despite his vote for Biden in 2020, Lucero believes that, as president, Trump would be able to change the economy for the better. “I think he will help me out financially,” Lucero said. “Inflation has affected me personally.”“Regardless of who it is, we need some peace and freedom from this election,” Rea supplied. “After all, that’s what our country is all about.”The post Wasatch Back voters weigh economy, democracy, the world, women’s rights at the polls Election Morning   appeared first on Park Record.