Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders were beating their opponents among local presidential primary voters, according to the Tribune�s informal survey of voters Tuesday morning.

In Columbia, opponents of a switch to automated trash collection using wheeled bins, or roll carts, enjoyed a lead among those surveyed, though some of the voters said the ballot language was confusing and prompted them to vote the wrong way on Proposition 1.

Polls are open until 7 p.m.

Among 60 Democratic primary voters the Tribune surveyed at four Columbia polling places and in Hallsville and Ashland, Sanders had a 38-20 lead over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

�I think Bernie has a chance even if he doesn�t get the Democratic nomination,� Paquin Tower voter Peter Anger said. �He could win as an independent because he has a huge support base. If you look at who is giving to his campaign, it�s small donations from that large support base and not corporations.�

In Ashland, Sanders supporter Ernie Wren said he voted for the candidate because he was looking for someone who could bring people together and because he supports Sanders� stances on social justice issues and education. Sanders� major campaign planks include raising taxes on the highest earners, more regulation of Wall Street and free tuition to state colleges and universities.

Cruz garnered 23 votes among 50 Republican voters surveyed, with businessman Donald Trump netting 16 votes for second place. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio pulled in six votes, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich received five.

Cruz has tried to position himself as the best alternative to the controversial Trump, who has come under fire for his statements about Mexicans and Muslims as well as the tenor of his rallies. Violence broke out between protesters and Trump supporters at a canceled Trump rally in Chicago last week.

�He�s probably the least politically correct candidate,� said Donald Hiatt, who voted for Trump at the Activity & Recreation Center. �It is the year to not be politically correct.�

At least one Cruz voter cast his ballot as a statement against Trump. Evan Church, who voted at Paquin Tower, said he does not support most of Cruz�s policy positions but wanted to send a message that Missourians do not support Trump.

�His ideologies are dangerous,� Church said. �If he gets put on the ballot, he will have a bigger platform for his� hate speech.

Other Cruz voters said they agree with the senator�s policy positions. Cruz is known as an extreme conservative who has alienated some of the more moderate members of the Republican Party.

�We are of like mind,� said Hallsville voter Erin Gunter.

If Proposition 1 passes, it would bar the city from considering an automated trash collection system using roll carts. The Solid Waste Advocacy Group got the issue on the ballot with a petition drive and has pushed for a �yes� vote to ban the carts, citing concerns about cost and the ability of elderly and disabled people to haul carts to the curb.

Among Columbia voters who took the Tribune�s survey, 36 voted �yes� and 27 voted �no.�

Four voters surveyed at Paquin Tower said they accidentally voted the opposite of how they intended because they misinterpreted the question.

Fred Smith was one of those people. Smith said he voted �yes� on the ballot question despite supporting roll carts.

�It�s easier to wheel something than lift a bag,� said Smith, who has a disability.

This article was first published online on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 11:38 a.m.