ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) – Despite Monday's rainy weather, there were still long lines at polling stations in St. Louis.

The line outside the Buder Public Library in South Hampton snaked around the building during peak voting times, often during rainy periods.

Erica Dunk had forgotten to bring an umbrella and said she had to stop at the nearby Target to grab one and a coffee.

“It was wet,” she said. “It has slowed down a bit, but it is still important to wait.”

The line at Buder was so long that voting took more than an hour after the polls closed. Election officials had allowed anyone in line before 4 p.m. to vote.

Ben Borgmeyer, director of the St. Louis City Board of Elections, said voter turnout remained high across the city despite the rain.

“It makes things even more chaotic. It’s harder for people to wait in line, but I think the turnout is pretty high,” he said.

Borgmeyer reminded city residents that voters can visit any polling place in the city on Tuesday. Many more polling places will be open on Election Day, meaning voters will likely find polling places with shorter lines and/or indoor queues to avoid getting caught in the rain.

He said the city's new interactive wait times tool can help voters go into Tuesday with a plan.

“Know what to expect,” Borgmeyer said. “It’s good for you as a voter to know, and good for all voters, and better for all voters in the city.”

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