When the polls opened at 7 a.m. across the Island this morning, Vineyarders were ready to cast their ballot for the next President.
Dozens of people had lined up at the six towns’ polling stations and thousands of residents are expected to vote in what could be a new record for the Island.
David Stephens was one of the small group of Oak Bluffs residents who were waiting outside the town’s library before the polls opened, joined by a group of squawking turkeys. Though more than 6,000 Islanders had already voted early, he said he liked to fill out his ballot on election day.
“I like to stand in line with my fellow Americans and cast my vote,” said Mr. Stephens, who voted for Vice President Harris. “Democracy in action.”
Throughout the day, voters cited women’s reproductive health, the economy and the lack of better options as some of the deciding factors in their votes.
Aidee Espino, a 26-year-old Oak Bluffs resident, cast her ballot for Mr. Trump. The economy was a tipping point for her.
“I need to be able to survive the next four years and then he’s gone forever,” she said. “People my age can’t find jobs and can’t even afford to live with their parents. It’s about saving the economy.”
Robyn Reilly, an Aquinnah voter, took the opposite view.
“I feel that [Vice President Harris] would be conscious of women’s rights, she’s very conscious of the housing crisis that we’re having now,” Ms. Reilly said. “I think that she would turn around our economic situation.”
Christel Tomlinson, an Edgartown voter, said she voted for Kamala Harris and is hopeful that for the first time a woman will be president.
Ms. Tomlinson is a Black woman of Haitian descent and both her parents are immigrants. She said Trump’s campaign has spread hateful lies about immigrants.
“My parents work hard for us to be able to have a better life,” Ms. Tomlinson said. ”Eating pets and all of that craziness is just... it sucks.”
Ms. Tomlinson said she was assaulted while at work when Donald Trump was president and attributes the hate crime to the violence he encourages.
“There’s always been hate of course, but when you have somebody who is supposed to be a leader of a country and is just promoting [hate]... it’s giving them the green light, it’s putting gasoline over a fire,” Ms. Tomlinson said.
More than a dozen people in Tisbury had lined up at the Tisbury emergency services building when the polls opened. The town’s first voter of the day, Beth Healy, smiled as she said she voted a straight Democratic ticket.
Still, anxiety was a common theme. Ms. Healy grew serious when asked about her party’s prospects.
“I’m scared,” she said.
Fellow Tisbury voter Peter Howell echoed a similar sentiment.
“I’m on pins and needles, really, really nervous, but I’m feeling... confident, you know that the right outcome will occur,” said Mr. Howell, who voted for Vice President Harris.
“I just hope there’s no violence today or tomorrow [or] on the subsequent days, or destruction,” he added.
The anxiety was felt on both sides of the aisle.
Jay Macleod, who pulled up to the Aquinnah polls in a blue convertible and sporting a denim jacket with eagles, American flags and the word “vote” on it, said he was particularly concerned about Vice President Harris’ immigration policies.
An independent voter, Mr. Macleod said he votes on results, not party affiliation. He felt Mr. Trump made a lot of positive changes during his four years as president.
“Despite the fact that Mr. Trump may have some character flaws, he’s done a lot for this country in his four years,” Mr. Macleod said.
Sarlin Eliot, an Edgartown voter, cast her vote for former President Trump. She said the world has so many problems and he’s the man who can fix them.
“[The election] is so close and I almost want to close my eyes and wait until tomorrow morning,” Ms. Eliot said. “I’m very nervous about it.”
Tonight she plans to sit with her dog and pray as results come in. She said oftentimes on the Island she feels as if she can’t be outspoken about her support for Donald Trump.
“I just think it’s a shame that we are not allowed to put on a Trump hat or put a Trump sticker on our cars without being afraid that we’re going to be accosted,” Ms. Eliot said.
For many, voting was a family affair. Chelsea Simpson brought her seven-month-old baby Zea May to the Edgartown polls this morning. She said she’s feeling tense but is hopeful that the Island community can rise-up no matter who is elected.
“This [next president] will be part of the formative stages of her life,” Ms. Simpson said looking at her daughter who was smiling and jumping in an Elf onesie. “She doesn’t know what’s happening in the world. It gives me a good incentive to dig deep for hopefulness and next action steps regardless of the outcome.”
Islanders will also vote on a threeway race for state senate between incumbent Julian Cyr, Republican challenger Christopher Lauzon and unenrolled candidate Joe Van Nes; a 10-way race for Martha’s Vineyard Commission; and ballot questions on the tipped minimum wage and standardized tests.
Polls are open until 8 p.m.
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