North Coastal News

Nearly 10 million Texans responded to the call to vote early in this year's election, according to statistics from the U.S. Elections Project. 

LaPorte resident Sammi Hammers was one of them — perhaps one of the first — Hammers cast her ballot on the first day of early voting, an act of civic duty she said is to ensure the nation doesn't go down the wrong path. 

"[The presidential election] is the most important," Hammers told North Coastal News. "Because I fear the trap that our country might end up in."

When choosing a candidate to support in an election race, Hammers looked for principles that she thinks the candidate shares with the Founding Fathers, as reflected in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. 

"They're the [candidates] I like to see in office," she said. Hammers wants to see a Republican Senate in Texas, as well as a Republican presidential administration. "It's more important this year than any other year."

With five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild, it's important to Hammers to elect candidates that will work for a better America. 

"I can't leave the country to [my family] in the condition it's in," Hammers explained. "So I'm working hard to make it better."

The LaPorte resident's message to undecided voters in these waning hours of voting time is that those who choose to remain silent do not get the opportunity to complain when the results are in. "Their vote is their voice, and if they choose to remain silent during the election, then don't gripe afterwards"

All in all, Hammers wants to see people remain involved in the democratic process.

"I think a lot of what's going on today snuck up on the population because they didn't pay attention," she said. "And I think this election is a wake-up call to a lot of people, and I would love to see them stay active and take the government back to 'We the People.'"