Americans are lining up at the polls across the nation to cast their ballots for the next president of the United States.
The Epoch Times was on the ground, hearing the voices of those first voters in line in the early hours of the morning of Nov. 5.
While everything from celebrity endorsements to green technology were on voters’ minds, a few key issues took prominence across the nation: the economy, abortion access, and border security.
This is what voters had to say.
Sarah Pierrie and Jennifer Boyd – Charlotte, North Carolina
Sarah Pierrie was one of the first voters in line at the Olde Providence Elementary School in a southern suburb of Charlotte.
She told The Epoch Times that she was prepared to cast her ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I have two young daughters, so preserving their rights to make decisions for themselves about their health and their body is important to me,” Pierrie told The Epoch Times between sips of coffee in the rain.
“Harris will act and speak on behalf of all Americans.”
Jennifer Boyd arrived at Olde Providence early, too. She said she voted for former President Donald Trump.
“He does a great job of putting people around him that are competent and capable,” Boyd told The Epoch Times. “And overall, I think it’s about what is best for our country. What way do we want our government to be run? I agree with Trump’s policies.”
North Carolina had a record early voting turnout with more than 4.2 million ballots cast, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Boyd said she voted on Election Day for family reasons.
“My husband and I usually go together, but our oldest son is voting for the first time today, and he didn’t want to get up early,” Boyd said with a smile.
Andrew Fitzpatrick—Pittsburgh
Andrew Fitzpatrick arrived bright and early at the Shaare Torah Congregation to cast his ballot.
Fitzpatrick declined to say whom he is voting for, describing it as a personal decision. But to vote in a state that could decide the election, he said, was “fairly overwhelming.”
“So I’m just here, doing what I would be doing anywhere,” he said.
Fitzpatrick said he cared especially about issues pertaining to “human rights, dignity, decency,” and the environment.
He told The Epoch Times that he might consider moving to Europe if his candidate loses, although he said that would “probably not” happen and that the future would depend on whether the next president granted funding for green infrastructure.
Elizabeth Gonzalez—Atlanta
Elizabeth Gonzalez was first in line at the Buckhead Library polling location. She arrived shortly after 5 a.m. because she felt this election was especially important.
She said that she had been to Afghanistan twice and wanted to be part of history again. Although initially reluctant, she waited nearly two hours to cast her vote early.
“I almost wasn’t going to because I’ve had it up to here with the 2020 election. But I know things are important. Things matter, and I want to make sure my voice is heard,” Gonzalez said.
She didn’t share her choice of candidate but said the most important topic to her was women’s issues.
Glen Shaw, Kamga Gilbert, and John McKinney—Richmond, Virginia
Some two dozen voters lined up at the Shenandoah Community Association polling station before the polls opened at 6 a.m.
The precinct—a swing zone in its own right—is in a solid red congressional district and voted for a Democratic candidate by a 5 percent margin in 2022. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin won the precinct by 2.5 percent in 2021.
Glen Shaw, a sales representative, was the first to cast his vote at the location on Election Day.
He voted for Trump, citing Trump’s border and crime policies. He described the current time as “one of the most historical moments this country is going to experience in a long time.”
“I just hope that he ends up winning the election. If not, we’re in trouble, in my opinion anyway,” Shaw told The Epoch Times.
“I’m very concerned that we have so many celebrities and everything else involved in the other part of the process.”
He was referring to the Democratic Party’s campaign.
Kamga Gilbert, a truck driver originally from Cameron, also said he voted for Trump. Gilbert told The Epoch Times that he was the first in line but was delayed in the process, so he became the second voter at the location.
“I liked his policy,” Gilbert said of the former president, saying the country is mired in high inflation and beset by an unprecedented amount of illegal immigration and that “only Donald Trump can fix that.”
“I really regret the last four years. I’ll be happy for him to come back and finish the job he started in 2017 to 2020.”
John McKinney, an entrepreneur, said he would rather keep his choice private but that he was a single-choice voter on the issue of abortion access.
“I just want to make a change for my daughter,” McKinney told The Epoch Times.
Stellanie Yiannos—Tampa, Florida
Stellanie Yiannos said her vote was a personal decision but that she lamented that politics had become “a lot more chaotic” in recent years.
“The most important thing is to protect individual rights,” she told The Epoch Times.
“I think it’s important to vote and be a part of history, even if you’re not the most political [person].”
Jerrold O’Sullivan and LaShaun—Brookfield, Wisconsin
Jerrold O’Sullivan was the first person in line to vote on Election Day at the Brookfield Conference Center in a conservative suburb west of Milwaukee.
O’Sullivan had moved a flight around to be able to vote on Nov. 5, as he had initially thought he could participate in early voting (for Wisconsin, in-person absentee voting) on Nov. 4.
“I couldn’t not vote. It’s so important to me,” the retired academic administrator told The Epoch Times.
Like others who have spoken to The Epoch Times this election season, he said he worries about what could happen in the future if he reveals his candidate of choice.
“I’m afraid of retribution. And we shouldn’t feel that way in our democracy,” he said.
LaShaun, who did not want to share her last name, said she was inspired to vote for Trump.
“This is a very important election, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” she said.
“We want families to prosper, and we want children to be protected. I’m a very strong advocate for the protection of children, and I’m a very strong advocate of our borders being safe.”
Kariyma Reid, Katie Stock, and Mitchell Robinson—New York City
At an elementary school in Hell’s Kitchen, Kariyma Reid cast her vote for Harris.
“We voted for equality. We voted for peace on Earth. We vote for all the people who do not have a voice. We voted for Kamala Harris,” Reid said.
“I felt like it was time for a change, and having a woman in the presidency would be a really big change I would love to see in my generation.”
Katie Stock also voted for Harris, saying she was voting against what she perceived as the negative aspects of a Trump presidency just as much as she was voting for the positive aspects of a Harris presidency.
“I did that because not only am I a Democrat and have been my whole life, I think she stands for very important issues that Trump would like to ignore,” Stock said.
“I think she is the candidate for all people. She has a firm plan to fix the economy. I think she has a firm plan to secure everyone’s rights, and I would never be able to vote for someone who could lead an insurrection and take no credit for it.”
Mitchell Robinson said, “I voted for Kamala Harris because democracy is on the line.”
Tony Green—Houston
Even in a light rain, more than 25 voters stood in line before the polls opened at 7 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Tony Green, a Houston resident, drove up in his van with several coworkers at about 6:45 a.m.
He doesn’t vote in every election, he said, but this time, he, along with friends, family, and coworkers, thought this election was especially important.
Green didn’t want to say which candidate he selected for president.
“I wanted to see if my vote was going to make a difference,” he said.
Green noted that he voted for the candidate he thought had a better plan.
One of his co-workers, who didn’t wish to give his name, said he voted for Trump because he thought the economy was better four years ago.
“I know he’s the right candidate,” he said.