A blanket of misty rain covered the Miss-Lou Tuesday, but poll workers said that it didn’t deter people at all from casting their ballots.

&uot;We’ve had a great turnout. People didn’t mind standing in the rain to vote this morning,&uot; said Elizabeth Hodges, who worked the polls at Adams County’s Lovely Lane United Methodist Church.

&uot;This has been much heavier than in the elections of 2000, it seems like more people are interested, more concerned,&uot; she said.

Her husband, Charles Hodges, also a poll worker, said that he was surprised when he looked outside before the polls opened.

&uot;There were at least 20 to 30 people lined up this morning in the rain waiting to get in,&uot; he said.

&uot;When the doors opened,&uot; Elizabeth added, &uot;this room filled with people.

Annette Galloway, sitting behind the folding tables checking voter registration with several other workers agreed.

&uot;We had over 100 in the first 30 minutes, we are up to over 600 and its only one o’clock,&uot; she said.

Evelyn Smith, election commissioner for District 3, said she was very pleased with the turnout.

&uot;It seems like an excellent turnout, probably one of our best.&uot;

Anne Allmand, who worked the polls at the Adams County Courthouse, hoped that she wouldn’t be up too late on election night.

&uot;We have been very busy and will be until we close at seven tonight, then we will have to count all the absentee ballots. I hope that I can be out of here around 10,&uot; she said.

Smith said things had gone smoothly for the most part, with the exception of some voter confusion.

&uot;Some people have not known where they are supposed to go to vote,&uot; she said.

She blamed the problem on voters not understanding that their polling place may have changed from the last election.

&uot;Last time there was a vote, it was a city election and there were there were six wards. This time it is a county election and there are 20 precincts,&uot; she said.

One voter who experienced a problem was Donald Rushing, who discovered that his name was not listed at the By-Pass Fire Station, where Rushing said he normally votes.

&uot;I have always voted at the firehouse, but when they change it up, it’s confusing,&uot; Rushing said.

Poll worker Bessie Miller had to make several telephone calls in attempt to discover where Rushing should vote. Unable to place him at the proper precinct, she instructed him to file an affidavit before casting his ballot.

&uot;They can’t find him in the book so it may have to go to the Election Committee to see if his vote will count,&uot; she said.

Other polling places said that the problems they encountered were much less important.

&uot;The only real problem that we have had is that we have run out of junk food,&uot; poll worker Christine Freeman said.

J.J. Whitehead said the weather had not presented any sort of problem in keeping people away from the church to vote.

&uot;Seems liked the rain must have helped if anything,&uot; Whitehead said. &uot;We have about one-third more people voting than in the 2000 elections at this time.&uot;

Across the Mississippi River in Concordia Parish, poll workers reported much of the boost in voter activity.

&uot;We are having a very good turnout, over 50 percent already,&uot; said Bonnie Robertson, who worked the polls at Ferriday High School.

Voters there seemed anxious and determined to have their voice heard.

&uot;I am very excited. I believe that there will be a big turnout; the weather don’t bother me,&uot; Jack Adams said.

Adams, 89, said he hasn’t missed an election since 1936 and he wasn’t about to start now.

&uot;I have voted in every one since Roosevelt ran against Alf Landon,&uot; he said, &uot;I wouldn’t miss it for anything, except maybe a tornado.&uot;

Voter Sharon Sciele went even farther.

&uot;I would vote if it were rain or shine, sleet or snow. I would even be here if a hurricane came through,&uot; she said.

The halls of the Concordia Parish Courthouse were similarly alive with citizens eager to cast their ballots.

&uot;Voter turnout has been fantastic,&uot; said poll worker Sylvia Thomas. &uot;This is more than 2000. For our precinct, it has been the best.&uot;

Letha Taylor was excited to not only cast her ballot, but that her two daughters would get to participate in their first presidential election.

&uot;I always vote because I grew up that kind of background. My daughters are now 18 and 21, so this will be their first time ever,&uot; she said.

Taylor was a little dismayed that her husband, Randy, a paraplegic, wasn’t able to make it.

&uot;To go, I would have had to take an ambulance,&uot; Randy said, &uot;Metro called twice and offered to take me for free, but I just couldn’t make it. I don’t miss many and I really hate that I missed this one,&uot; he said.