Voters stared at their shoes and followed specific directions in silence as they waited in short lines for their chance to cast their votes at Ames polling places on Election Day.

“Everyone was quiet,” said Virginia McFarland, 82, of Ames, after she voted at the Ward 2, Precinct 3 polling place in St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave. “You don’t voice your opinion at the time of voting.”

Virginia and Burr McFarland said they vote in all elections, including general and local.

“I hope there’s no hanky-panky with the voting this year,” Virginia said.

Burr, 82, said he worries about the amount of early voting that took place in this election, not including absentee voting.

Burr said after the first ballots are filled out, there should be no more political campaigning. Certain things could happen after the votes are cast, and it is too late for them to change their minds, he said.

Pat Cain, a retired volunteer at St. Cecilia’s, stuck “I voted” stickers on people as they exited the polls.

Cain said there are always people who come in to vote and find they are in the wrong precinct. He said the voters point to where they live on an Ames ward map, and it is easy to correspond the map to the correct precinct and send the voters on their way to the correct voting place.

Erik Wisecup, sophomore in pre-business, said the volunteers at the Ward 1, Precinct 2 polling place at the Human Service Center, 126 S. Kellogg Ave., were organized and helpful.

He said although people weren’t discussing the election, it was interesting to hear the middle-aged volunteers gripe about not getting paid much for their long day of work.

Cain, the volunteer at St. Cecilia’s, said he noticed more numbers and younger faces for this year’s election.