We know it may not have been easy but so many of you voted today and it seems turnout was big across the country. Here’s what some News & Guts readers told us about their voting experience:

Laura Dhokai (Arlington, VA): Voted this morning first thing after dropping kids at school, then volunteered as a poll greeter (here in Virginia you can’t list the party affiliations of down ballot candidates next to their names so sample ballots are crucial!). Made new friends, and was freezing cold by the end because it was a torrential downpour for two straight hours in 50 degrees. Went home chilled and with pruney fingers but glad to have helped out. One very elderly couple drove up and went inside so slowly and carefully, only to have to come back out and go back home because they forgot their IDs. They came back, even in the rain. We held umbrellas over them the whole way from their car to the door (they were too proud and refused curbside voting). I was so impressed with their dedication.

Today felt like Christmas…..if there was a 50% chance Santa might set your house on fire. You just never know. But as David Axelrod said, all we can do is everything we can do. Now we wait. 

Stacey Murphy: I was number 217 at the polls this morning at only 9:10 am, here in my Upstate NY Town. There have been elections where I went at night and my number was much lower. It was downright festive.

There were lines but smiles all around. One friend told me her 19-year-old, and her mother who had just become eligible were voting for the first time today. On his way out, one man thanked the election volunteers for their service. Another mom showed her baby how the machine took the ballot, though his eyes were on the sticker. I chuckled with a neighbor at our voting stations as he and I complained about needing glasses for the first time ever at the polls. I almost lost it and started crying, it felt so kind, gentle, and sincere though quietly powerful. #vote

Jillian Waters (Boulder, CO): My husband and I are both alumni of Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, FL. We brought our kids to DC for The March For Our Lives, and I have become active in our local Moms Demand Action group. While waiting for my ballot, my 4-year-old went over to an empty station and yelled, “Look, I’m voting for gun safety!” I was one proud momma.

Johanna Parker (Mid-coast Maine): On our way out of the polling place, an elderly gentleman stopped to tell me he liked my bumper sticker: Semper Fi. I told him my dad was/is a Marine. He had his Marine Veteran cap on and I went for a hug, which he warmly returned. My 4-year-old peeked out from the car and he asked if she’d like a hug too (yay for *asking*) and she sure did. After saluting each other, he left and my eyes were filled with tears. My little girl said, “It’s ok momma. I liked Pop Pop’s friend”. Last time I voted, I was full-on weeping. With hope. This time it’s more savage. But this man gave me hope. Have no idea which way he went but still. Semper Fidelis. Like Marines, let’s not leave anyone behind this time. ?????

Sandy Luebbers Strickler (Stillwater, OK): I live in a college community. My precinct is small. I was surprised when I got there that the booths had people in them and a man sitting at a table doing his ballot. I have never seen that in the years I’ve been voting. The woman behind me in line said she hadn’t voted in a long time. ❤️. PS. They had run out of stickers. Made the call while I was there to get more.

Mandy Brandon Kelsay (Kansas City, KS): I am a Hispanic mother of three teenagers. One of my children voted for the first time today! I have always voted since I married a Union Sheet Metal Worker. He taught me that voting is my right and I should vote every time. I started taking my kids to vote with me as they came into this world. They now know from living in the deep red state of Kansas that our vote matters. We vote for the women in our lives. We vote for our healthcare. My kids have lived through this Kansas Experiment and have said, they will forever be Democrats because of what they have had to endure through the Republican experiment.

Laurie Westfall (Tucson, AZ): My 18-year-old voted for the first time. I was just as excited as I was her first day of kindergarten!

Katie Gray: Showed up at 6 am just when the polls we’re opening here in Lexington, KY and there was already 40-45 people in line to vote. Election officials hadn’t ever seen this type of turnout so early in the day! Here’s hoping we make Kentucky a little less red today!

Holly Hatcher (Middleton, Wisconsin): Ward 18. Voter Number 101. Generally when I arrive at my polling place at 7 a.m. I’m number four or five in line. Never have I seen this many people at the opening of the polls. Lines were out the door and people were parking blocks away and walking in the rain to get to the polling place. Today feels very emotional. Our democracy is in the fight for our lives. No matter what the outcome of today’s election, we have a long ways to go to restore some sense of Harmony. Sanity, security and peace in our country. Thinking positive and sending loving vibes out to ALL of the people in our country. <3 #vote#fightofourlives