Long lines, smooth voting in Philadelphia
Long lines, smooth voting in Philadelphia . Long lines, smooth voting in Philadelphia
The Jamaica Observer
People wait in a line outside the polling station at Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. (Photos: Kasey Williams)

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Long lines were a feature at polling stations in Philadelphia on Tuesday as Americans turned out in large numbers to vote in what has been cast as the most consequential election in the history of the United States.

At Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, 19-year-old first-time voter Nick Mitchell told the Jamaica Observer that he cast his ballot for US Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party candidate, because he grew up in a Democrat household.

“I decided to vote because my grandma marched for the right to vote, so I might as well take advantage of it while I am here on this Earth. Thanks to her and everybody who put the work in to get where we are today,” he said.

“I was raised [a] Democrat, and also Donald Trump’s morals don’t align with mine. I am not here to hate… he is not my cup of tea,” he said of Trump, the Republican party candidate who lost the presidency — after one term — to Joe Biden four years ago.

Mitchell said the voting process was smooth and swift, lasting approximately 10 minutes.

Vince Cobb, another voter, said this election was his fourth.

“I voted for Kamala Harris. I believe in a character of values,” he said, adding that Harris has a more positive message for the country than Trump.

Outside the polling station, Jessica Cole from New York and Oz Gamel were among scores of volunteers helping voters.

“I travelled [here] because I already voted in New York and so I wanted to go to somewhere that needs extra volunteers to help out on election day. I care a lot about this election. I want to make sure people’s voices are heard,” Cole said.

She explained that her role as a volunteer includes thanking people for voting and giving them the opportunity to reach out to their friends and family to remind them that Tuesday was the final day to get to the polls.

“The energy is pretty incredible. People are excited to be voting,” she added.

Gamel, who lives in Philadelphia and is the son of a Jamaican immigrant, was happy directing eligible voters.

“I am half-Jamaican. I am going to be voting after I help a couple of people get through the polls here,” he said while declaring his intention to vote for Harris.

“I am looking for change. Definitely, I have seen some things happening so I am looking forward to changing the guard. I think we got Pennsylvania on lock; one state at a time, one vote at a time,” he added.

Earlier, at Main Attraction Unisex Salon, barber Kenny Duncan said he was more interested in the other candidates on the ticket rather than the national vote for president.

“My perspective is that my vote locally has more impact on my life than it does federally, that is just my perspective. Other people do have different viewpoints but when I study how Government works, I believe that the collection of US senators and the House of Representatives as a team has more power than one person,” he said.

“Laws can be passed without someone’s personal beliefs. I believe that I need to focus on who is doing stuff in my community and who is supporting those individuals to do more for my community,” said Duncan.

“I voted, and the process was super easy. I rolled my bike over to the polls, walked right in, checked in, voted. I was through in like five to 10 minutes. I voted for the Democrats because of my civic engagement. Personally, it starts with what I do with my non-profit, and the people who support my non-profit the most have been the people who are in this area that I have built relationships with, starting with my local state reps to local senators,” he said.

“People have to earn my vote, I don’t just give it,” added the third-time voter.

Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral college votes, is the largest battleground of the seven swing states that can decide the election. The others are Arizona, with 11 electoral college votes; Georgia, with 16; Michigan, 15; Nevada, 6; North Carolina, 16; and Wisconsin, 10.
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2024-11-06
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Long lines, smooth voting in Philadelphia
Long lines, smooth voting in Philadelphia