By Jesse Kuhnle
Long voting lines snaked down the sidewalk as voters waited up to an hour and a half at the A.V. Sorenson Library in mid-town
The historic nature of this election undoubtedly had an effect on the high numbers of voter turnout. The fact that, after this election,
“I am super excited,” said Sharon Stoolman, a 36-year-old pediatrician. “What matters most was that people got interested and finally we have a turnout.”
Kim Carpenter, a 41-year-old writer could feel the strong emotions running through the line of voters.
“I actually got a little choked up,” Carpenter said. “All the people talking, it was pretty momentous. I was casting my ballot and I really did get choked up.”
Stoolman and Carpenter, both supporters of Democrat Barack Obama, cited issues such as health care, improving America’s status internationally and “social justice.”
“I may be affected and have to pay more taxes,” Stoolman said. “But it doesn’t feel like me paying less taxes is more important than people who need help, getting help.”
Chris Snyder, a 27-year-old regional market director, said he hopes that voters are basing their votes on the issues, and not on race or gender.
“I just hope that people are making votes on the accurate issues,”
Snyder said. “I hope they’re taking a look and actually voting for the candidate that supports the issues they support, and not voting just for female or African-American.”
Snyder called taxes one of the most important issues to him, and waited just about an hour to cast his vote for Republican John McCain. Even though McCain seems to be the underdog, Snyder remained hopeful the night would end positively for the republican.
Lines were at a virtual standstill between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. as voters waited patiently in the autumn sunshine. Lines began to inch forward after 2:30 p.m., as voters continued to flock.
The long lines did not appear to discourage new voters either.
“I just want to be able to choose this time,” said Sandy Martucaho, who did not vote in 2004, but braved the long lines today. “I want to voice my opinion.”
James Nelson also didn’t vote in 2004, due to being absent from his district. For Nelson, issues such as the economy and health care, make this election more important to vote for. These specific issues led him to cast his ballot for Obama. Nelson said he likes that Obama is giving money back to the middle-class people, instead of “the old republican way of giving to the bigger corporations”
