Natalie Neysa Alund, and Chris Smith

The Tennessean

Early voters had strong opinions about the races at the top of the ticket, and it drove them to big lines as voting location doors opened across Middle Tennessee Wednesday morning.

Once the initial rush was over, voters moved steadily in and out of the locations.

Greta Gaines rolled into the Green Hills Library on Benham Avenue to cast her vote about 8:45 a.m. She was in and out of the building in less than 15 minutes. And she was glad.

"I am so excited for this election season to be over. I figured if I just voted, I could move on," Gaines said.

Bonnie Smith-Whitehouse of Nashville also voted at the Green Hills Library.

In this election, she said, she's most concerned about tone and the democratic process.

She voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. "I believe she can take this country to where it needs to be."

In Williamson County, Ken Goad, a supporter for Republican Donald Trump, was voting for a return to the past.

“There was a lot good with this country,” he said, and he bemoaned the changes. “Taxes, immigration, guns — a lot of the problem is that we don’t enforce the laws we already have. We don’t need new laws.”

He also said this election has taken a darker turn than any he can remember.

“This election has gotten nasty," Goad said. “You know, Trump isn’t the most polished guy, but I think he genuinely wants to help this country.”

Lance Paine, president of the Nashville company Goo Goo Clusters, said experience was a major basis for his decision to support Clinton.

“I don’t want to go see a 70-year-old who just decided to be a dentist last year when I need a root canal,” Paine said. “I feel like Hillary has been doing this for decades. I don’t think there has ever been a greater discrepancy in pertinent experience as there is this election.”

Among those voting in Sumner County was former state Rep. Debra Maggart. While she votes “no matter what’s on the ballot,” she said it was the presidential campaign that brought her out.

“I’m a Republican and I do not think Hillary Clinton is who we need in the White House,” said Maggart, who lives in Hendersonville.

Hendersonville resident Laverne Murph disagreed.

“I wanted to be part of the first group of people to vote in a woman as president, and I did. I’m so excited about it,” she said.

In Murfreesboro, Ruth Deyton said she backs Trump "because he's a strong leader."

Deyton identified "our Christian values" and the national debt as the issues that most concern her. "Just get America back, strong," Deyton said. "Strong we win."

Trump also has the support of early voter Arnette Allison.

“We are in the toilet now because of the Obama administration," Allison said. "If Hillary Clinton wins, we are going down, all the way.

"My husband is a retired Marine. He’d be very upset with the way things are going right now. I’m upset with them."

Ken Lawrence of East Nashville voted for Clinton.

"There is no choice there. I wish we had another choice. Donald Trump scares the bejesus out of me."

For Dennis Castle as well, voting in Ashland City, the choice was clear.

“We have a crazy guy that I don’t want to see in there," Castle said. "This time it’s more about voting against somebody than for somebody. I imagine the rest of the world is laughing at us.”

Trump Train visits Springfield

In Clarksville, Austin Peay State University Associate Professor of Economics Dennis Pearson said he voted for the Republican Party, not necessarily for Trump.

"It's not that I agree with their candidate as much as I completely disagree with the baggage from the Democratic side; I voted for the Republican Party for president," Pearson said.

5 things to know about early voting

Early voting continues through Nov. 3.

Clarksville-area voters pack polling booth on first day

Early voters cast presidential ballots in Murfreesboro

Contributing: Scott Broden in Murfreesboro, Mealand Ragland in Gallatin, Max Smith in Ashland City, Nicole Young in Springfield, Pranaav Jadhav in Clarksville, and Jordan Buie and Shelley Mays in Nashville.