I wasn’t among the early voters. I’m an Election Day stalwart. Get out there and vote | Opinion

We've all heard the stories about long lines of people waiting to cast their ballots during early voting.

I wasn't one of them. I'm a day-of voter from way back. I prefer to vote on Election Day, usually before work, and wear my "I voted" sticker all day long.

I've lived and voted in a lot of places, and I can remember where I was for each of the presidential election years (yes, I'm dating myself): Gary, Indiana; Dallas, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Edmond, Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, and back here to KC.

I voted most years, but always on Election Day. Once or twice I couldn't make it before work because of lines and I had to cast my vote after hours in the dark. Doesn't matter when you do it, just vote!

I used to say that I like to vote on Election Day because it feels like I'm voting in community with everyone else, when so many others exercise their rights and their voices. But I really can't say that anymore because of the large numbers of early voters. They were voting in community, too.

Hey, I'm proud of my fellow voters making the decision to get up and get out early — with lines of people waiting hours in Jackson County locations last week. My colleagues, Eleanor Nash and Natalie Wallington, have been following this story . Tammy Brown, director of the Jackson County Election Board, shared some insights.

"This is a record-breaking year for early voting," Brown told The Star. "I have never seen this kind of turnout ever" before Election Day, she recalled from her more than 20 years with the Election Board. "I think it's both parties saying, 'Get out and vote early,' and people are listening."

The early numbers are causing the Jackson County Election Board to expect 80% voter turnout during the general election, compared to a total of 76% in 2016 and 26% in the 2024 primary in August.

The Star reported that as of Monday, more than 400,000 people have already cast their votes in the five counties that make up the Kansas City metro area.

It's true that general elections tend to see bigger turnouts than primaries or even local elections, but 80%? Those are huge potential returns, dwarfing the measly 34.3% Jackson County turnout for the sports stadium tax.

Even though I saw the reports and heard about the numbers of early voters, my friends among them, it didn't move me. I'm an Election Day stalwart, and I'll be up and out early at my assigned polling location. Probably around 8 a.m. Then I'll head to work.

If you are reading this around that time and you haven't voted yet, don't forget to take along your handy list of Kansas City Star endorsements to your polling place. It's legal to do so. There's a copy in the printed version of Sunday or Monday's paper, or you can download and print it out here.

You can read our full endorsement editorials for candidates and ballot initiatives here .

Happy Election Day and happy voting!