The Cole County voter turnout for Tuesday's primary election exceeded expectations, driven by a combination of races and ballot propositions, County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said.
Korsmeyer had projected a 35 percent local voter turnout coming into the election, but the final result was 39.67 percent.
"I'm happy with that," Korsmeyer said Tuesday night, noting the average turnout for an August election is approximately 30 percent.
Local ballots featured contested races for candidates seeking their political parties' nomination to run in the Nov. 6 General election, including for incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's seat, as well as right-to-work and local use tax propositions.
Tony Nigro, a retired Marine, said he came out to vote in favor of the right-to-work Proposition A.
"I don't think anybody should be taking money out for union dues when they're not a member of the union," Nigro said outside the polling location at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. "If they want to be a member of a union and pay dues, don't make it a law that other people have to pay for it."
Retired Air Force veteran James Barber said he voted "yes" on Proposition A in support of workers.
"I voted 'yes' because it benefited the people, I believe. It's their choice, and it protects their rights," he said outside his polling place, the County Employees Retirement Fund Building.
"The union leaders have too much power and, I think, Prop. A is a good way to take away some of that power that they have over the laborers," Chip Edward Dix explained at the Cathedral of St. Joseph polling location in Jefferson City.
"I voted 'no' on Prop. A because I think we have a tendency to forget the little guy," Jessica Epple-Farmer said at The Linc. "Unions have played a large role in helping the balance of power between the owners of businesses and the little man that does the work - helping to maintain fair wages and livable wages."
Rishanda Richardson, who works for the National Education Association and is a union member, also voted against Proposition A. "I think it's very important to keep unions in Missouri - to keep unions strong," Richardson said.
Lisa Esterline and her daughter, Ryan Esterline, 20, went to vote together at The Linc. The two were most interested in "No on A" and in the election for U.S. senator, Lisa said.
"We're really pulling for Claire McCaskill," she said. "We feel like we're kind of outsiders."
Peggy Harris said at the county retirement fund building that she was particularly interested in voting on the U.S. Senate race, too.
"We need to get Claire McCaskill out of there. She's not doing our state any good. She's voting for everything that people don't believe in, trying to take it away from us, and we can't let that happen," Harris said.
McCaskill, a Democrat, will face Republican nominee Josh Hawley in the November General Election.
Tuesday was Mary McGraw's first primary vote, and she - who identified herself as an independent - wanted to vote against McCaskill, but added: "I wanted to make sure to make my vote count on the Republican side" given the number of Republicans being elected and races she was interested in.
McGraw said the vote on right to work and Jefferson City's Proposition L use tax also brought her to the polls at the county retirement fund building. She said the property tax increases to pay for Capital City High School are enough for a couple of years.
The proposed Jefferson City use tax failed at the polls Tuesday.
Amina Acelam said she hoped she would make a difference with her vote.
"I feel like every vote counts," Acelam said outside Capital West Christian Church. "I just try and vote, and if it doesn't go the way I want, then I know that I at least tried."
Natalie Diemler went to The Linc to vote but was turned away after poll workers determined she wasn't registered. She said she had lived in another city for a while but thought she was still registered to vote in Jefferson City. Diemler said she was happy poll workers were able to register her quickly so she can vote in November.
Cynthia Blosser, election supervisor at the County Employees Retirement Fund building, said: "You can't complain if you don't show your support and come out and vote. It's one of those things where people complain about this and that. But when I say, 'Did you vote?' and they say, 'No.' Well, shame on you then. The only way you can do change is to get out and make your opinion heard."
Catherine Gandhi recently turned 18 and voted for the first time Tuesday.
"I was really invested in Prop A. and was really excited to vote (against) that," she said Tuesday morning after voting at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. "Just kind of with everything going on in the world right now, I'm really excited to be part of the political process."