Today, voters across the country decide what course the country will take.
The Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, whom the Shakerite endorses, is a strong supporter of abortion rights, investment in alternative energy sources and tax cuts for small businesses. Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump is anti-abortion and supports militarization of the police, mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, fossil fuel use and tax cuts for the wealthy.
The Shakerite visited Fernway Elementary School and Shaker Heights Public Library Main branch polling locations to gather the opinions of those who waited to cast their ballots this morning and afternoon, respectively.
Women’s reproductive rights were a frequent point of focus in voters’ minds. “It could really impact my life because I’m a female, and I have a daughter,” said Brenna Rudary, who waited to cast her ballot at Fernway Elementary School. “I feel like it is very important to exercise your right to vote as a citizen of the country.”
Fiona Green, who was at Fernway Elementary School waiting in line to vote, said that the outcome of this election could be a step in the wrong direction. “If my candidate loses, we might erode 50 years worth of progress regarding women and regarding social services and regarding all sorts of freedoms that we have come to take for granted,” Green said.
Kristina Dunn, who voted at the main library, said she is in her late 60s and has voted in “every single one” of the presidential elections she has been eligible for. She also expressed worries about the election result. “I’m leaving the country if it goes one way, and staying here if it goes the other,” said Dunn. “I hope that everybody votes for the right person for the right reasons.”
At the library, Troy Meinhard, 54, waited to vote in a presidential election for the 10th time. Health care was on his mind. “I have children who are 25 and Trump’s promise to get rid of Obamacare concerns me,” he said.
James Steinbauer, who also voted at Fernway, said that issues beyond who becomes president are important to him in this election. “There are a lot of other issues on the ballot. Abortion rights is one of them, the general state of our democracy is another,” Steinbauer said. “Those are things that would impact my future daughter, and, I think, the health of our family and communities as well.”
Additionally, Steinbauer works at a law firm that secures federal funding for renewable energy, which he said is another reason he is voting in this election. Harris has called climate change an existential threat, and as vice president cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided about $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Some voters said that they would follow election coverage after they cast their vote. Others said that they planned to decompress. “Tonight we’re gonna watch Great British Bake Off, try to unplug a little bit. The results will be there in the morning,” Abigail Archer said while waiting at Fernway.
Lynn Loritts, awaiting her chance to vote at Fernway, planned to avoid watching election coverage. “It makes me too nervous,” she said. “I’m going to turn on old comedy shows when I’m at home so I can get a giggle.”
Nancy Cook, who voted at the library, also plans to unwind after voting. “I’m going to go home and have a glass of wine,” she said. “Especially these days, I probably read and watch too much news.”
Loritts, who is Black, said that voting is important to her due to her race. “It’s my obligation to vote,” she said. “Specifically for my demographic background — I have ancestors who were prohibited from voting, either because they were not citizens or when they became citizens were not allowed to register to vote in the deep south and elsewhere.”
Kathleen Alto, who works as a psychologist at Metrohealth, was awaiting her turn to vote at Fernway. “There are a lot of LGBTQ people in my family, and I work with transgender adults, so trans health issues are really important to me,” said Alto, “and Republicans have made attacking trans health a number one priority for them.”
Environmentalism and the prevention of climate change was another issue that voters mentioned. “I believe in climate change. I believe in all science, and I want to have a president who is going to fight for the world and science and my children’s future,” Meredith Koletsky said while waiting to vote at Fernway.
“I find every election to be very important, but I feel that our country is in a very divisive place and there’s a lot of hatred. There’s a lot of anger, and I’m worried,” Koletsky said.
Voters are also concerned about the economy. “If the Democrats win, I think it will impact my children, who are adults, and make things easier for them as they start to build their careers and want to buy homes and start to have children,” said Linda Rae, who has voted in every election since she turned 18.
“I think some of those tax credits and tax benefits that Kamala Harris has talked about will impact them,” Rae said while in the Fernway line.
Voters said that this election is especially important. “It’s my right, and my responsibility and my honor. I vote in every election — big and small elections — but this feels more important than ever,” Kim Cole, 51, said while waiting to vote at Fernway.
Cori Knoll, who voted at Fernway, said, “I hate to be cliche, but I think that this is the most important election of my lifetime.”
Senior Nathan Ballman is a first-time voter. He said that he’s invested in this year’s election because he may attend a public university. “Some candidates in the election are more for funding public universities, so I feel it’s important to vote for them,” said Ballman, before casting his first ballot at Fernway.
Peter Jones, 23, is also a first-time voter. “As a kid, I didn’t really care too much about politics,” he said. “As I’ve grown up, I’ve begun to understand how important it is.”
“Everyone always says it’s the most historic election, but this is honestly such a big turning point,” Jones said, who voted at Fernway.
First-time voter Taryn Hills waited to vote at Fernway. “The young people in particular are the ones making the change,” Hills said. “I feel like we’re the ones waking up the older people and the younger people, making them realize how important it is to vote.”
“It’s really special for me to see someone who looks just like me running for president,” Hills said. “I feel like it’s gonna make history, and she stands for a lot of the stuff I believe in.”
Despite the widespread anxiety about the election, some voters expressed hope for the future. Said Matt Green, who voted at Fernway, “I’m an optimist about democracy, so even if we don’t have the outcome that I fervently hope for, I’m confident that four years from now, we’ll be standing in this same line doing it all over again.”
Contributors: Ingrid Holda and Liam MacGilvray, writing; Ollie Karlowicz and Sofija Sullivan, reporting from Shaker Heights Main Library.
