Scenes from the polls: General Election 2020
Charlotte doctor brings daughter to witness democracy in action
3:45 p.m. — As the sun begins to set behind the Charlotte town hall, Jean, a 48 year old physician, arrives to cast her vote.
She brought her daughter with her to share with her the experience of exercising the right to vote. The majority of votes have been sent in through the mail, and it was important to Jean to physically see her ballot submitted.
As a democrat, Jean hopes to see elected officials tackle gun control, environmental responsibility, and healthcare. Amidst a dire pandemic, Jean hopes this election will improve the United States’ global standing, mend damaged relations that have been caused by the current administration.
- Mimi Myers
Steve Schubart arrives at the polls after realizing using a permanent marker for his ballot was a faulty decision. (Mimi Myers/Community News Service)
Silly mistake brings voter to Charlotte polling place
3:32 p.m. — Steve Schubart, 34, traveled from his ranch on Tuesday to make his voice heard — though he meant to mail a ballot.
He drove to Charlotte Town Offices to vote in person after realizing that the permanent marker he used on his mail-in ballot had bled through the pages and compromised his vote.
He hopes that this election will heal divisions being made in our country; however, fears that the result of this election will divide Americans even more so than they already are. Among his top concerns in local and state government are environmental impact, he said.
-Mimi Myers
Haley Hess, a UVM student, has just wrapped up her Biden Vote and is pictured waiting outside the library for her housemates to finish voting Tuesday, Nov. 3. (Grace Morrisey/Community News Service).
College student casts vote with an eye on progressive environmental policy
3:01 p.m. — Haley Hess, a local college student from New Hampshire, took advantage of Vermont's dual-registration this election and voted in Burlington today.
She chose to vote in Vermont because she wanted to be able to voice her opinion and help pass more progressive environmental legislation in Burlington, she said.
She noted that she wanted to "use her voice to back the environment.”
By electing politicians and people that care, Haley says her vote will make a difference.
-Grace Morrisey
College voters worry about a Trump victory
The exterior of the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. (Grace Morrissey/Community News Service)
1:45 p.m. — With snow flurries in the air, students from both Champlain and the University of Vermont are coming out to the Fletcher Free Library to cast their votes. Noah Brugar, from York, Maine, Alex Ward from Syracuse, New York and Kelly Joyce from Massachusetts are showed up and shared their challenges and anxieties about today's election.
The friends explained how, for them, voting in person was just easier since they live a few blocks away.
For them casting their vote in person would ensure it was counted. College students who reside all over the country benefit from Vermont’s dual-registration laws.
Brugar said he was trying to vote in his home state of mail through the mail, but his ballot was delayed.
“It’s frustrating but there’s nothing I can do. The mail-in wouldn’t get in on time and voting here is better than not voting at all,” Brugar said.
They all agreed that voting by mail has been beneficial to so many people this election, and they are glad that it had increased voter turnout across the Country. Now they are crossing their fingers for a blue victory.
Covid-19 is shaping the turnout of this election and the future seems unpredictable to the voters.
“It’s affecting everyone in different ways. The pandemic impacts individuals, business, governments, and presidents. We have to remember that this affects everyone and respond by voting today,” Brugar said.
Voting with others in mind is key for many students today, they said. Everyone is nervous about the results, but regardless, people are showing up.
-Grace Morrissey
Biden voter heads to polls to ‘counteract’ Trump votes
1 p.m. — Long lines were expected at polls across the nation today, resulting in some like Nick Lemeline, a 35 year old Landscape Supervisor, to take the day off to ensure his vote was counted in Williston.
Lemeline was concerned his mail-in ballot would not be counted whether it be due to a signature or issues with the postal service.
Lemeline said that most Trump supporters opted to vote in-person so he thought it best to vote in-person for Biden to counteract Trump votes. He said this was the easiest election to make a decision in, and for that reason felt compelled to vote in-person.
-Emily Leimbach and Julia Carlson
Biden voters in Hardwick bemoan national division
12:48 p.m. — The sun had peaked out for a few minutes as Jessica Deziel and Roy Cookson exited the Hardwick Fire Department Building, the town’s polling place this year.
Cookson, 68, and Deziel, 44, had just finished voting for Joe Biden. Cookson said that he was particularly excited at the prospect of removing the current president.
“Yeah, I’m fearful of him being there still,” Deziel added. “I think that’s maybe part of coming out to vote in person."
Deziel and Cookson said that they would split a ticket if they believed in what a candidate stands for. Cookson said that he had done that in this election, voting for current Republican Governor Phil Scott.
Deziel and Cookson were displeased with the contentiousness of political discourse, even among their good friends from the other party.
"Now, Jesus Christ, if you say you are voting for Biden, they want to fight. They don’t want to argue fight you; they want to fistfight, you know?” Cookson said. "If I was 40 years old again, I’d take that on with a frickin passion.”
“That’s the sad part,” Dezail said. “We should be able to discuss. It shouldn’t be putting the gloves on and wanting to fight.”
— Emmett Avery
Raymonda Parchment, 19, voted for the first time today. (Emmett Avery/Community News Service)
For first time voter, national politics is paramount
12:37 p.m. — Raymonda Parchment is 19 and just voted for the first time.
“I just figure it's a good opportunity and a good experience, and I think that if you have the opportunity to vote for your leaders, you should take the opportunity,” Parchment said. “It's nice to have a say, and I want to use my say.”
Parchment said that the national election was top of mind and that she voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
— Emmett Avery
Despite new protocols, election going smoothy, official says
12:21 p.m. — Nancy Schwertz, a retired education councilor, is an assistant election official at Burlington’s Ward 5 and this is the third election she has worked on. This time around there is more security and stricter rules than ever before, Schwertz said.
The main focus of officials is enforcing the extra precautions that are necessary to ensure citizens confidence in the protection of their voting rights and their safety.
Schwertz said that the process is going very smoothly and she encourages everyone who has an interest to get involved.
“I would not have missed this election, and doing this work allows me to be part of the community and the process,” Schwertz said.
-Allison Ouellette and Meredith Rathburn
Williston voter getting it ‘over with’
12:20 p.m. — As more voters rolled in to the Williston Armory around lunch time, so did Gene McCue, a 55 year old accountant.
He said he did not have a strong reason for voting in person versus mail-in. When asked what is he most excited for when voting today, McCue said, “honest, get it over with.”
McCue’s bluntness elicited nods and chuckles from fellow voters nearby.
- Emily Leimbach and Julia Carlson
Gene McCue, a 55 year old accountant.
Hardwick Trump supporters mistrust mail ballots
Ryan, Heather and Merle Cote stand outside of the Hardwick Fire Department building, where polling was held for this year’s election. (Emmett Avery/Community News Service)
12:12 p.m. — A large Dodge pickup truck sat next to the polling place in Hardwick around noon today with two Donald Trump flags flying off the back, alternately flapping and getting tangled with their poles in the blustery wind.
When Ryan, Merle and Heather Cote emerged from the polling station, they said that they came out to vote for president. “This right here, Donald Trump,” Merle said, gesturing to the pair of flags.
The family said that they were voting in person because of issues with mail-in voting, including, they said, instances of ballots being set on fire, lost, or tampered with in various other ways.
“So all these people that mailed them in, it's kind of going to be moot. They're going to have to go to a poll," Merle said. "There’s just no way they can count them."
- Emmett Avery
Oakley Lisson (left) and Kayla Turner (right) show off their "I Voted" stickers at the Municipal Building in Johnson. (Rebecca Flieder/Community News Service)
Teenage voter casts ballot squarely against Trump
11:58 a.m. — Johnson's voters showed up in a steady stream on election day, braving blustery weather. Oakley Lisson, 25 and Kayla Turner, 19, of Johnson, came out to vote at the Town's municipal building.
Lisson said that his main mission in showing up was "pretty much just not having Trump in office another four years," and Turner agreed. "Not really excited about the other options," he said, “But that's the real thing."
Turner's first time voting in a presidential election was not swayed by the pandemic. Both Lisson and Turner had missed the deadline for early registration and registered today to vote.
-Rebecca Flieder
Bluemle campaigns in Burlington
Tiff Bluemle, a candidate for state House, campaigns outside of a polling place in Burlington. (Meredith Rathburn/Community News Service)
11:31 a.m. — Bracing the cold, Tiff Bluemle holds her campaign sign outside of Burlington’s ward five polling location.
Bluemle, 59, is running for state representative for Burlington’s wards five and six. She ran a non-profit called Vermont Works for Women for 17 years and now runs a local non-profit called Change the Story VT which focuses on gender equity. The substance of Bluemle’s work has been on advancing women’s economic well-being.
Bluemle has been an educator, non-profit leader and advocate for many years but has decided she now wants to be “on the other side of the table” and part of those important conversations.
Bluemle said she enjoys the sense of community in Burlington and said she feels like she can really make a difference.
“The governor could be your next door neighbor,” said Bluemle. “There’s proximity that facilitates conversation and collaboration” she continues.
Blumle hopes to make more marginalized populations feel more visible as a state representative.
-Meredith Rathburn
The entrance to the American Legion post #49, polling place for Fair Haven. (Hunter J. Smith/Community News Service)
New York corrections officer ‘ready for it to be over’
11:23 — John Crowningshield, a Fair Haven resident and New York State corrections officer, is one of many voters in Fair Haven who echoed the sentiment that showing up to to vote your civic duty, even if you yourself don’t believe you’ll be affected that much.
“Honest, I’m just ready for it to be over”, he said, going on to talk about how his life and his work stay pretty much the same no matter who wins.
When asked about why he’s choosing to vote in person, Crowningshield said he never got a mail-in ballot from the town office, which is part of why he’s here.
Crowningshield “likes doing things in person,” he said.
-Hunter J. Smith
Future Voter joins mom at Orchard School
11:13 a.m. — As the snow started to melt outside of Orchard School in South Burlington, the line to vote remained almost non-existent.
Sarah Daring was one of the few who showed up to vote in-person.
“I think it’s the tradition of it all, just wanting to feel present. With things going on in the media about ballots possibly not making it, I just wanted to make sure my vote was secure,” she said.
Daring was accompanied by a smiling young girl proudly wearing a ‘future voter’ sticker. Daring herself donning an ‘I Voted’ sticker.
- Adrianna Maher
Web developer Sarah Harissis posing in front of the Smilie Memorial School in Bolton before casting her vote. (Scott Barnes/Community News Service)
Burton Snowboards given day off to vote
11:11 a.m. — As the brief sunshine slipped away and the light snowfall began again, Sarah Harissis, 31, made her way through the mud-coated parking lot of the Smilie Memorial School in Bolton to cast her vote on Election Day.
“I don’t trust the mail-in votes with all the stuff Trump’s been threatening,” Harissis said. “I’ve always voted this way. I know there’s a pandemic going on, but this is such a small town... I figured it was safe to just come do it.”
Harissis works as a web developer for Burton Snowboards; the company was given the day off to vote.
“It really should be a national holiday,” Harissis said.
-Scott Barnes
Local artist Beth Haggart votes for Joe Biden at Burlington’s Ward 5 polling location. (Meredith Rathburn/Community News Service)
Burlington voter ‘can’t wait’ to remove Trump
11:10 a.m. — On a splintering cold morning, local artist Beth Haggart votes for Joe Biden at Burlington’s Ward 5 polling place.
“Biden!” she exclaims before a reporter can begin an interview.
Haggart is designing green roofs at the age of 70. She describes why she is here to vote in person today with enthusiastic hand motions and vigor in her voice.
“I can’t wait to get Trump out of office so we can start dealing with the things that are important” said Haggart.
Haggart said she wants the next administration to focus on social issues like Black Lives Matter and the environment.
-Meredith Rathburn
Jennifer Dennis and her daughter head to the polls Tuesday. (Kenzie Imhoff/Community News Service)
St. Albans will stay blue, voter predicts
11:05 a.m. — Jennifer Dennis and her daughter walk up to the St. Albans City Hall to cast their ballot in-person.
“I don’t trust who’s in charge and the postal service and the way that things have been ripped out and have been slowed,” the St. Albans resident said. City Hall. “We have a low set of [COVID] cases here. If it were a high rate area, I would have taken my chances by mail.”
In the last presidential election, St. Albans went blue, with a majority voting for Hillary Clinton. Dennis believes St. Albans will be the same this year, despite a recent Trump rally of around 30 cars that met at Walmart and rode around the town. “We’ve been blue for a long time, I don’t see that changing,” she said.
“I am just hoping for a change in administration, honestly,” She said. “I’m showing my daughter how to vote,” she said as the two entered the polling place holding hands.
-Kenzie Imhoff
‘Civic duty’ easier to do in person, Fair Haven voters say
11:05 a.m. — Auto mechanic Shane Doran, 29, and Oil delivery driver Ian Courcelle, 25, gave similar responses to questions about why they decided to vote in person in Fair Haven today as they neared the entrance to warmth and ballot casting.
"I'm just here doing my civic duty, coming in person was easier than voting by mail," Doran said.
"It's easier to vote this way than do it by mail," Courcelle said.
The two shuffled into the place single file, only to have their places taken by more chilly voters.
-Jana DeCamilla
Chris Aiello facing the winds after feeding in his ballot, waiting for his friend to finish theirs. (Adrianna Maher/Community News Service)
National division worries South Burlington voter
11:04 a.m. — Melting snow and harsh winds met voters at Orchard School in South Burlington this late Tuesday morning.
Chris Aiello, 24, a computer repair specialist waited until Election Day to cast his ballot.
“It feels more significant to me to vote in-person and it also gives me more time to think about my choices,” he said.
Aiello is worried for how election results may impact the country as a whole. “I hope for a more stable and predictable future. As far as fears, I just fear that the country might go in a worse overall direction and we will become more and more divided,” he said.
Aiello patiently waited outside in the cold for a handful of minutes, waiting for his voting partner to finish up.
- Adrianna Maher
Mary Johnston, a resident of Bolton, displays her ballot as she goes to drop it off at the Smilie Memorial Elementary School polling site Tuesday, Nov. 3. (John Ely/Community News Service)
Bolton resident walks to polling station to drop off ballot
11:03 a.m. — The slush in the parking lot of Smilie Memorial Elementary School in Bolton, Vermont sparkles as a ray of sun shows through a gap in the clouds.
Despite her fiancé taking her car because of the snow, Mary Johnston, 31, a resident of Bolton, decided the walk to the polling site was worth her knowing her vote was going to be counted.
“I filled [my ballot] out and I am coming in person to drop it off because I feel more confident that it is going to get counted and not have the burden of following up that it was counted through the mail.”
-John Ely
Voters brave cold on election day
11 a.m. — Nicholas Merritt, 32, stood in line rocking back and forth with his hands in his jeans to try and keep warm as he waited outside American Legion Post #49 to cast his ballot.
"I vote every election so I wasn't going to miss this one," Merritt said. "I feel like there are enough precautions in place to vote safely and I'm not part of the vulnerable population, so why not come out?"
Merritt works for the Alzheimer's Association as a fundraiser and declined to share his political views as he tried to maintain a safe distance between himself and the woman in front of him.
-Jana DeCamilla
Voting with a little bit of fear and a commitment to stay engaged
10:58 a.m. — To make sure her voice was heard, Charlotte voter Megan Brancaccio decided to vote in person.
Concerned primarily with national politics and women's reproductive rights, Brancaccio looks into the future with "a little bit of fear," but even more with a commitment to "stay engaged and awake even if we get what we want after today."
What Brancaccio wants is a Biden win, and despite not being a particularly political person or involved with state politics, she nonetheless voted for Governor Phil Scott again, citing his " action "in this time of crisis" as the main force in that decision.
-Mikaela McSharry
Megan Brancaccio. (Mikaela McSharry/Community News Service)
A Biden-Scott voter in Charlotte
10:58 a.m. — In Charlotte, Megan Brancaccio was driven to vote in person today partly because she "slacked off" in mailing in the ballot she received, but mostly because it felt official and she wanted to be sure her voice was heard, she said.
Concerned primarily with national politics, and women's reproductive rights in particular, Brancaccio is looking into the future with "a little bit of fear," but even more with a commitment to "stay engaged and awake even if we get what we want after today," she said.
What Brancaccio wants is a Biden win, and despite not being a particularly political person or involved with state politics, she nonetheless voted for Governor Phil Scott again, citing his "communicating with the community" and action "in this time of crisis" as the main force in that decision.
-Mikaela McSharry
Hinesburg Town Clerk Missy Ross. (Nick Beal/Community News Service)
Mail-in ballots easing workload, Clerk says
10:53 a.m. — Hinesburg Town Clerk Missy Ross has been seeing a slower day at the polls than usual; attributable to the high number of mail-in ballots, she said.
“There’s been a much much heavier turnout for earlier ballots” said Hinesburg town clerk Missy Ross.
“This has made our workload a lot easier. I think the post office has done a phenomenal job. They’ve been very responsive to our questions and have gotten back to us in a very timely manner. I’m very pleased with how this election has gone in terms of administration,” Ross said
When asked about the politics behind this election Ross said, “We live in a small enough town where everyone knows each other so I haven’t noticed any tension between voters. People are more engaged because we’re gonna have a higher turnout than we’ve ever had.”
John Kelley said he fears a drawn-out vote count. (Ryan Joseph/Community News Service)
St. Albans voter fears ‘prolonged anxiety’ should presidential election be close
10:48 a.m. — John Kelley, 28, of St. Albans walked out of City Hall having voted in-person, a rarity for most Vermonters this election cycle.
“I’ve always voted in person, but honestly I forgot to put my ballot in the mail,” Kelley said.
It was very simple for him to vote in-person anyway, given his flexibility of working from home, he said.
“Being in a small town makes it easier than in other places,” Kelley said.
Expressing no concerns about the efficacy of the mail-in ballot, his greatest concern was about finding out the results of the election. Noting that if results are not decisive enough early on, his greatest concern is the “prolonged anxiety” of having to wait and see the eventual outcome.
“I find Joe [Biden] lacking things, but that’s better than the alternative to me,” he said after mentioning he probably won’t feel comfortable until January if he sees the result he is hoping for.
-Ryan Joseph
From left: co-workers Simon Burrows, Elliot Lacroix and Julian Lacroix. (Shay Brunvand/Community News Service)
A first-time voter turns out in Charlotte
10:45 a.m. - In Charlotte, Vermont, three coworkers explained why they came to vote in person this morning.
“Because I live right up the road, it was really easy,” said Julian Lacroix, 30.
Simon Burrows, 60 had a more monumental reason, “This is the first time I’ve ever voted in my life so I had to come and do it in person,” he said.
“It was the first time I was eligible, so I planned to vote regardless of the circumstances in 2020,” Burrows said.
All three voters expressed apprehension about the outcome of the presidential election, Elliot Lacroix, 30, saying what makes him nervous is the potential of a contest of the national results.
Julian says that even though neither candidate was his first choice, he still saw the importance in voting, “It’s important I think to get Trump out of office so if Biden is our best chance and is the elected chance then I will vote for him and he has my full support.
-Shay Brunvand
Lee Kelley casts a vote in St. Albans. (Kenzie Imhoff/Community News Service)
Septuagenarian voter calls on young people to vote
10:43 a.m. — “Us old people are a lot more resistant to change than you young folks,” St. Albans resident, Lee Kelley, says in front of the St. Albans City Hall.
Adding with a smile, “I still haven’t decided who I’m voting for.”
Kelley explains how he does not have a phone or a computer. “I have to get all of my news via the TV and by talking to people.”
Yet, as a 75-year-old with a long history in news and reporting, Kelley speaks to the importance of the news in today’s election, most of which, he believes, “favors Biden.”
Kelley continues to explain that he will not vote for Trump because he “really doesn’t like his attitude, he’s not presidential at all.” Once again, he calls the young people to vote, concluding that “if the young people don’t vote, we won’t have change.”
-Kenzie Imhoff
Fair Haven voter frustrated by lack of options
10:40 a.m. — A line of seven stood outside the American Legion Post #49 on South Main Street in Fair Haven, as they waited to cast their ballots Tuesday morning.
Devon Harding, 22, an Environmental Science major at Castleton University, said it's important to choose who has power in government and explained she only came in person because she forgot to mail in her ballot.
After voting, Harding followed up to talk about her experience inside the polling place.
"I was frustrated in there," Harding said. "I only saw one option for the justice category, and they weren't in my party. It really isn't voting if I am only given one option."
Harding voted in the 2016 election as well when she was 18.
-Jana DeCamilla
Rep. Casey Toof stands outside St. Albans City Hall with his family, stumping on his behalf this Election Day. (Ryan Joseph/Community News Service)
St. Albans House contender votes in person, cites ‘tradition’
10:34 a.m. — Unlike some other candidates out waving signs, state representative Casey Toof, 35, of St. Albans showed up in-person to vote on Election Day.
“I spent 30 minutes in line at the polls. Thats the first time I’ve ever waited in line to vote,” he said.
Toof’s reason for hitting the polls today instead of mailing in his ballot was driven “because of tradition. I’m a superstitious person and because I’m on the ballot I try to do things the same way every time,” Toof said.
Toof’s traditional dispostion to voting was a common rationale for many Vermonters across the state showing up at the polls today.
With many voters submitting ballots early this year, it has made for some confusion about how the in-person process works, which Toof recognized.
“Helping people understand the process helps them know any issues that may arise when they come in,” Toof said.
Stumping alongside his competitors Toof said, “it’s a respectful process and I don’t expect too much negativity.”
As he and his colleagues shared laughs and conversations with constituents, Toof fielded questions, waved to voters, and even got a quick visit from both parents and grandparents coming in to vote at City Hall.
-Ryan Joseph
Bolton voter wants country to come together
10:27 a.m. — Small flecks of snow drifted down from a grey sky over the Smilie Memorial School in Bolton today, where Kevin Lynch, 29, was exiting the polls.
“I’m hoping we can come together and be less divided,” Lynch said, adding that he is fearful “for the hate continuing to grow” in the United States.
Lynch explained that he didn’t like the choices for presidential candidates, but is more concerned about the reaction of Americans in the event of a Trump victory.
Lynch said he voted in person today due to late registration, and his decision was “pretty mixed all the way through.”
-Scott Barnes
Kendrick Forguites, 61 exits the poll at St. Marks’s Youth Center. (Emmy Sobelman/Community News Service)
Former Republican voter worries about right-wing violence if Trump loses
10:14 a.m. — Dani Stanisice, 22 exited the polls through a side door 100 or so yards away from the poll entrance at St. Mark’s Youth Center, one of the COVID-19 precautions being taken for in person voting this year.
Stanisice, a civil engineer, is voting for the first time this year. “I wanted the experience of voting in person,” he said.
Kendrick Forguites, 61, who is retired from military, wanted the experience of voting in person. A life-long Republican, he chose to vote Democrat starting with the 2012 election. Forguites voted for Biden.
Despite having friends who support Trump, he has “been waiting four years to vote.” He said. He worries about violence around the country if Trump loses.
“It’ll be instigated by the right wing,” he said.
- Emmy Sobelman
From left to right, Nora Tetrick, Sam Burgess, and Max Anderson all brave the cold to answer a few questions about casting their first ballots. (Aidan Scanlon/Community News Service)
Teen voters cast ballots for Biden
10:15 a.m. — Nora Tetrick, 18, Sam Burgess, 19, and Max Anderson, 18 all left the Colchester High School gymnasium after casting their first ever ballots.
The three teenagers opted for an in-person vote rather than a mail-in ballot.
"I forgot about the mail-in ballot, so that's my reason" says Anderson.
Tetrick is particularly concerned about the uncertainty surrounding this election and the credibility of the results.
"The kind of power that the current administration holds can really dictate a lot of the outcome which is unfortunate and kind of nerve wracking for this particular election" says Tetrick.
They were all excited to have the opportunity to participate in their first election, and casted their votes for Biden.
-Aidan Scanlon
Shelburne voter came in-person to be sure vote counted
10:08 a.m. — “I wanted to make sure that my vote counted, I feel that if I show up in person... it’s definitely going to be counted,” said Karen Smith, 53, when asked why she did not mail in her ballot.
And what are her hopes for the election?
“My hope is that we can elect someone who is going to be able to unite all people, all of us, together,” Smith said. “I am concerned about the aftermath of this if it doesn’t go the way I’m hoping.”
She explains that while she is typically a Democrat, she will consider the platforms of different candidates and doesn’t exclusively vote for Democrats.
When asked if there’s anything she would like to add she responds, “We are so lucky to live in Vermont, we live in a bubble and we are fortunate on so many levels.”
-Shay Brunvand
Bolton voter not confident in mailed ballots
10:07 a.m. — Flurries continued to fall leaving the parking lot of the Smilie Memorial Elementary school in Bolton caked in mud and slush.
Vincent Curtis Hunter, 77, a resident of Bolton, decided to cast his vote in person due to the perceived risk of mailing his ballot.
“I have real misgivings about the looseness of expanding the mail-in and giving everybody ballots in the mail. I am not confident that it is as secure as it needs to be,” Hunter said.
Hunter also has many hopes that this election will not lead to a further divide in the country.
“I cannot believe the vitriol that has been going on. I am hoping that [it] dries up a bit. I hope we move back in the direction of the right versus where we are going in the left,” Hunter said.
-John Ely
‘Voting is something you do in person’
10:06 a.m. — As snow fell onto the grey parking lot at Camel’s Hump Middle School, 66 year old insurance agent Michael Mullen stepped towards the polling place.
”Voting is something you do in person,” Mullen said.
When asked who would be receiving his vote, he responded “Mr. Trump, of course, there is no one else.”
44-year-old college student Peter Cousino cast his vote on Election Day, for the sake of time, he said.
As snow coated his dodgers hat, he explained “I wanted to wait until the last minute to get all the information I could about the candidates.”
- Sarah Blow
Portilla contemplates his vote outside Camel’s Hump Middle School. (Ellery Mahlum/Community News Service)
Richmond voter still deciding between Scott and Zuckerman
10:05 a.m. — As it started hailing outside of Camel’s Hump Middle School, Julian Portilla makes his way to the polls still unsure of who he will vote for on the state level.
He is a democrat, and hopeful that a Biden victory happens by a wide margin on the federal level, but is still deciding between Zuckerman and Scott on the state level.
“Everything is so polarized right now and a little tiny symbolic piece I can contribute to reducing polarization is by voting for someone on the other side,” Portilla said.
-Ellery Mahlum
Barton grandparent of twelve casts vote for Biden
10:01 a.m. — 76-year-old Patricia Prue arrives at Barton’s municipal office, just in time for the polls to open.
“I had some errands to do, and I thought, boy, I could run right in,” she says about getting out to vote.
The sun begins to peak out on this 27-degree day as Prue finds a spot in line.
“I’m just hoping we get a darn good president this time,” she says.
Prue feels the only choice is Joe Biden. Three of Prue’s twelve grandkids had COVID-19, and she believes Biden is better suited to take on the pandemic that hit so close to home for her.
-Annika Ringen
Martin Lalonde, State Representative for District 7-1, outside of Orchard School in South Burlington, campaigning in the cold unopposed. (Adrianna Maher/Community News Service)
9:50 AM - South Burlington State Representative Martin LaLonde is running for re-election unopposed, yet he’s spending his morning waving and saying hello to everyone who enters the voting booth. Lalonde already voted by mail, dropping off his ballot about a month ago.
“So my hopes have been on a national level that we can set a new direction and get rid of the current administration. My fear is that, that won’t happen,” LaLonde said. “I predict that Trump will lose by millions of votes. As far as the electoral college, I’m still fearful and especially because of voter suppression in certain states.”
“I’m most concerned about voting, the right to vote and having a clear right to vote. Not a concern here in Vermont I think that Secretary of State Condos has done an excellent job encouraging voters,” LaLonde said.
LaLonde is hopeful for the future of Vermont and the country, he said.
-Adrianna Maher
John Doherty, a medical sales worker, exits Colchester High School Gymnasium after casting his vote. (Olivia Allegra/Community News Service)
Colchester voter says mail-in ballots unnecessary
9:32 a.m. — John Doherty exited Colchester High School Gymnasium as a line of voters formed inside.
Doherty, 61, works in medical sales and voted in person because he believes the physical act of voting is an important tradition. He said he has voted absentee in the past, but this year he believes it was unnecessary to spend money on mail-in ballots.
“The Secretary of State exceeded his judgement,” Doherty said.
He fears that “younger people think socialism is a good direction based on what they hear from progressives.”
Doherty said he believes true socialism has not benefitted the people. Doherty hopes that “we can get past this election, and that the people who lose, lose graciously.” He hopes that there are no riots or destruction of private property.
Locally, he is most concerned with the environment, and with reasonable taxes. He hopes that Vermont will welcome people based on its natural beauty, and remain an affordable state to live in.
-Olivia Allegra
Van Dora Williams, a professor at Champlain College, used a sample ballot to teach about voting. (Mia Dillon/Community News Service)
Professor uses ballot as teaching tool
9:34 a.m. — Van Dora Williams, a professor at Champlain College dropped off her completed absentee ballot at the Winooski Senior Center.
“It was absolutely amazing to be able to see the ballot ahead of time,” Williams said. She shared the ballot with her students to examine the long and confusing list of presidential candidates.
Williams described the sacred importance of voting — especially among members of historically disenfranchised groups. “I have a history of being excluded from casting my ballot, so being able to vote is a reminder for me of why it’s so important. It’s also a way of honoring my great grandfather who was a civil rights activist in the South,” Williams said.
Williams hopes that during this election our country will “learn how to lose and learn how to win.”
- Mia Dillon
Kanye West gets a vote in Vermont
9:30 a.m. — In South Burlington, Scott Stafford just voted at Orchard School. When asked about why he came to vote in-person, Stafford said that his wife advised him to and that he “always listens to her.”
“There wasn’t really any local issues on the ballot,” he said. Regarding the national election Stafford said, “I voted for Kanye West,”
Stafford is 60 years old and works as a self-described ‘IT guy’.
- Adrianna Maher
Shane Hanley casts his ballot at Hinesburg town hall Tuesday morning. (Tyler Lederer/Community News Service)
Undecided voter goes to polls still with questions in mind
9:23 a.m — With snow turning to hail in Hinesburg, undeterred voters have begun to reappear amidst the flood of campaign signs.
Shane Hanley, 24, a 3D abstract design artist, has been undecided all election, as neither candidates seemed encouraging to him.
“Just the last couple of days, I’ve kinda come to a conclusion of what I want to do.,” he said. “So, even though I have the mail-in ballot, I just never used it.”
Hanley plans to vote for Biden as he didn’t seem as self-centered, he said. He still remains undecided on most issues and is constantly questioning which are really important.
-Tyler Lederer
Milton residents Raymond and Nancy Mcnamara stand in line to vote at Milton Municipal Office. (Kenzie Imhoff/Community News Service)
Milton voters ‘horrified’ Vermont mailed every voter a ballot
9:20 a.m. — In matching American-flag-masks with pictures of German Shepards on top — the same ones that waited in their cars — Milton residents Raymond and Nancy Mcnamara stand in line to vote at Milton Municipal Office.
“It’s the American way to do it, to come out to vote,” They said as they wait in the cool weather.
“My wife and I are both in our seventies,” Raymond said, but “we are not afraid of the virus.” “I am all about my country, I served in Vietnam for four years, I served in law enforcement for 40 years, and I am a true American patriot.”
“We are horrified,” Nancy said, “That Vermont decided to send everybody a mail-in ballot.”
-Kenzie Imhoff
Watching it go into the machine
9:17 a.m. — With a young son in a fire truck red winter coat bumbling out the front door to play in the snow, Elisabeth Miller of Charlotte said she felt a deep sense of satisfaction and security watching her ballot “go in the machine."
Motivated not by fear but by what is possible, Miller said ,she hopes the election will bring prison reform, cracking down on drugs, citing President Trump’s leadership on those issues.
Miller, a native of Addison Country, is looking for Vermont to be "friendly to business, and be friendly to farmers," in a way she does not feel the state is now.
-Mikaela McSharry
Merrilee Phelps cast her ballot in person to be sure it counts. (Kenzie Imhoff/Community News Service)
Nervous voter casts ballot in person
9:15 a.m. — With the “Milton Municipal Office” sign shining behind her, Milton resident Merrilee Phelps carried her absentee ballot to drop off in-person.
“I was a little nervous about my ballot making it through the mail and whether they would say something at the last minute such as if it wasn’t notarized or officially ordained, so I filled it out and I am hand carrying it,” she said.
“I always did this every election year, so it isn’t any different now,” she said. But this year it is more important than ever she said, so she wanted to be sure it made it.
“I am afraid that Trump might make it and I am hoping we get the best for everybody involved as there has been a lot of craziness and we have been everywhere than where we need to be. And I think that everybody should be voting,” Phelps said.
-Kenzie Imhoff
Mask up: Sign Out
House candidate Chris Mattos campaigns on election day. (Ryan Joseph/Community News Service)
9:15 a.m. — Mask up and sign out, Milton House Representative Chris Mattos stood at the back of his truck socially distanced and waving to voters driving into the polls. Unlike the many people driving in to the Milton Town Office, Mattos had already voted ahead of time.
“Today we’re going to have a line out the door like we do now,” Mattos said. “I don’t know if I’d be standing out here if I wasn’t running,” Mattos said, bundled in layers, next to his generator stored in his truck bed.
Thousands of Vermonters have already cast their votes via the newly adopted universal mail-in ballot system, and at least half of Milton has already voted prior to election day.
Many around the country have expressed concern about the efficacy of the new voting systems put in place, but when asked about Vermont, Mattos displayed little worry.
“I think we’re going to be fine here in the State of Vermont, personally,” Mattos said. He believes that Vermonters would do the right thing if the ballot system presented them with an opportunity to commit an act of fraud.
Though Mattos, among other candidates on the ballot today, appeared to be making the best of the situation, he sincerely hoped Vermonters and the country wouldn’t need to do another COVID election again. “The personal interaction is what I miss the most,” continuing on to say, “at the end of the day, I’m a people person.”
-Ryan Joseph
Lyndon voter casts ballot after hitch with vote scanner
9:09 a.m. — Snow floated down as Andrea Chiesa walked out of her Lyndon polling place. She says her first attempt at voting her ballot was rejected at the scanner.
“I had wondered if I had mailed it in what would have happened,” she says.
On her second attempt she was able to successfully cast her vote for Joe Biden. Chiesa says she had no concerns about safety voting in person and, in fact, is more confident that her vote will be counted.
She expresses praise for the town clerk’s office and all those coming through the polls. “I love my town. It doesn’t matter which way you go, I love all the people in my town,” Chiesa says.
-Annika Ringen
Heather and Michael Roberts, who moved to Vermont from West Virginia in September, outside of the Georgia, VT polling place after voting in person for their first election as Vermonters. (Brooke McKeen/Community News Service)
West Virginia transplants cast first votes in Green Mountain state
9:04 a.m. — New Vermonters, Heather and Michael Roberts, 36 and 42 respectively, walked out of Georgia, Vermont’s polling place seeming particularly excited and happy to have casted their votes this election.
“Regardless of policy, to me, this is an election of integrity. Who are we as a country? That’s why I’m here and that’s why I’m very happy to vote. I’ve voted in every election since I was 18 years old, but I’m especially happy to cast my vote today,” Heather Roberts said.
Both were registered Republicans for a number of years, but have since switched parties and have identified as Democrats for some time.
“I didn’t want to be affiliated with that anymore. To me, even if I were to agree with every one of Trump’s policies, I can’t get on board with the lack of integrity, the hate, and the fear mongering. It’s just not something that I morally can join,” Heather said.
“I flipped parties long before Trump, but my real turning point was when the government could muster up a couple billion dollars for a wall, but not a couple hundred million for education,” Michael said.
Today, the two decided to come and vote in person for their first voting experience in Vermont. “For me personally, I’ve always voted in person and I’m generally young and healthy and I can wear a mask and social distance, so I felt safe enough to do it. We’re also not in a super highly populated area that made me feel uncomfortable to come out,” Heather Roberts said. “I think a lot of it was that we just moved here from West Virginia and it was just timing and the convenience,” Michael added.
Getting registered to vote in Vermont was at the front of the couple’s minds when they moved here two months ago. “You know, I think we were more stressed about getting registered to vote than about our license plate and drivers license registrations,” Michael said.
After adopting their 14-year-old son three years ago, who is a science and math wiz, education also suddenly became a top priority for their family.
“We wanted to get him into the best schools and give him every opportunity we could, so that’s another reason we found ourselves here,” Heather said.
For Heather and Michael, housing options and finding more affordable housing for people and and more affordable land prices is a big local government issue on their minds, as it is an issue that they are currently dealing with.
The couple are entrepreneurs and own a digital marketing firm out of their home, so another issue at the front of their minds is technology and high speed internet accessibility in Vermont, as it is essential to their business and they believe it will also help draw more people and new businesses to Vermont.
“Today I’m a ball of anxiety, but I’m happy to see people out voting. I think it’s an important part of our civic duty and so I’m happy to be here and to see others voting,” Heather said.
-Brooke McKeen
Alan Leblanc, 21 and Suzanne Tomlinson, 46, vote in Westford Tuesday. (Rowan Hawthorne/Community News Service)
Climate change key issue for Westford voters
9:01 a.m. — Alan Leblanc, 21 and Suzanne Tomlinson, 46 shivered in the 34 degree weather outside the back door of the Westford School.
Leblanc goes to school at Vermont Technical College, and Ms. Tomlinson is a manager at Johnson Farm and Garden Hardware. Due to technicalities, they were unable to vote through mail-in ballots.
This year, Leblanc and Tomlinson are voting for Joe Biden, hoping that “climate change [will be] one of the primary focuses. There is no point in anyone having money if our world is going to end!” They also want the federal government to focus on social equality and unification.
Tomlinson said that she feels there is a lot of hate in the current government, and that that is not truly who the U.S. is as a nation.
- Rowan Hawthorne
Castleton voters turn out with mixed reasons for voting in-person
Andrea Brown votes in person out of a “force of habit,” she said. (Ryan Boeke/Community News Service)
9 a.m. — With people starting to line up outside the polls, many are excited to participate and be in person.
Dan Ielle, an administrative assistant, says she “doesn’t trust” the mail in ballot system and would rather vote in person.
She believes that your opinion matters and that her ultimate goal is to see something different.
“I’m looking to see peace restored,” Ielle said.
Waving to folks passing by to vote, Bob Richards, a state representative, and his son are standing outside the polls, hoping for change.
“I’m feeling confident and hoping to see change. I think we are all ready for some change,” Richards said.
Andrea Brown votes in person out of a “force of habit,” she said. (Ryan Boeke/Community News Service)
Richards is excited for the day and is urging people to come vote.
“From an early age, my mom taught me to vote,” he said. “It is the only way to be heard.”
Evan Haley, a corrections officer, stands in line holding his son in his arms. His son is waving to everyone and saying “hi” and “bye” — the only words he knows.
Erin Alexander, a speech pathologist, votes on election day because she never received a ballot in the mail, she said. (Ryan Boeke/Community News Service)
Haley said he never really got around to voting through the mail. When asked about the outcome for today, he said he hopes to hear nothing.
“I’d rather not. I just came here to vote and that’s all,” Haley said.
With the wind whipping and the snow twirling, Andrea Brown is standing outside with her ballot in hand.
“I’ve always stood out here to vote in person, it’s like a force of habit,” Brown said.
Many of the people waiting in line have their ballots in hand, some completed and ready to turn in and others ready to fill it out.
Brown understands that this election might take some time and won’t be expecting to hear anything for a few weeks.
“It may be some time before we know the results, but if you don’t vote then you have nothing to complain about,” she said
With mixed feelings of curiosity and anxiety about the election, Erin Alexander, a speech pathologist, waits patiently outside the Castleton polls.
“I think this year there are a lot of crazy things going on with the pandemic and everything, it’s all just different,” Alexander said.
Alexander laughed about how the rest of her family got a ballot in the mail and how she didn’t.
“I kept waiting but it never came in. I just thought as my right as an American I needed to vote,” she said.
High School sweethearts turn out for Trump
Linda and Damian Boivin stand outside of the Georgia School after voting in person Tuesday morning, as they say they do every election. (Brooke McKeen/Community News Service)
8:57 a.m. High school sweethearts, Linda and Damian Boivin, 63 and 64 respectively, exited the Georgia School in Georgia, VT feeling good about their in person voting experience this year.
The couple are both retired bankers and say that they have always voted in person. “I just like doing it in person. I don’t need anyone to send me a ballot, I’m going to come out and do my duty,” Damian Boivin said.
He added that his twenty-two years serving in the US Navy has given him a certain respect and dedication to duty. With every election, the couple get excited about voting and they say that this year is no different than the rest.
“We vote every year and we are excited to vote every year,” Linda Boivin said. The two share a confidence and a hope that Trump will win the presidential election again.
“I feel confident that Trump’s going to come in ahead again,” Damian Boivin said. “I think he’s proven himself over the last four and people are expecting the same, if not more, from him.” Linda Boivin nodded in agreement.
In terms of state government, Damian said that he usually votes Republican and he did the same this year for Phil Scott, although he didn’t really want to, but felt he didn’t have much of a choice.
“I’m a little disappointed in Scott because he flip flopped so much last year, especially on gun reform. I expected more out of him,” Damian said.
“I just hope that everyone gets out there and does their part and votes,” Linda said in her parting words. She advised voters to “not let this COVID stop you.”
-Brooke McKeen
Campaign signs outside of the Winooski Senior Center. (Katie Wynn/Community News Service)
Winooski voter excited to change presidents
8:57a.m. — Snow began to fall in earnest as Ellen Post stood in line with a warm beverage in hand at the Winooski Senior Center polling location.
Post, 32, braved the cold to place her ballot in person. “I wanted to make sure my vote counted,” she said.
Asked if she was excited to vote today, she quickly stated, “Oh, definitely.” Why? “Changing our president,” she simply put.
Post works for Champlain Valley Head Start.
- Katie Wynn
Thelma Lavigne, a Winooski retiree, waits in line to cast her ballot. (Mia Dillon/Community News Service)
Winooski voter remained undecided until last moment
8:57 a.m. — Thick snowfall and 30-degree temperatures did not dismay the long line of voters outside the Winooski Senior Center.
Thelma Lavigne, 69, a retiree, contemplated her decision outside the polling place.
“I haven’t decided until I go in there, but it’s rough,” Lavinge said.
Lavigne voiced her concern regarding the state’s plan to mail ballots to all registered voters in the general election. “Some people got seven in the mail, but I never received it,” Lavinge said.
Lavigne voted in person today to ensure her vote will be counted, Lavigne said.
-Mia Dillon
Misti Wudtke casts her first ballot in Vermont. (Margo Coppes/Community News Service)
Essex Voter Casts Vote For Environmental Justice
8:53 a.m. — It’s Misti Wudtke’s first time voting in Vermont.
“I just moved to Vermont. I arrived on Oct. 10 so I didn’t receive a paper ballot in the mail.”
For her work as a GIS analyst, Misti chose to move here from Washington state. She was impressed with how easy the registration process was.
“The voting process today, both registration and voting, was easy. Even coming in a kind of last minute circumstance like I did today,” Wudtke said.
A lifelong democrat, Wudtke believes that climate change is the most pressing issue of our time.
“To me the biggest issues are environmental: climate change and everything else that goes with it. I think those are some of the biggest threats to humanity right now,” Wudtke said.
For her, a vote for Biden is a step in the right environmental direction.
-Margo Coppes and Noah Lafaso
Aaron Dellacroce, 31, after casting his ballot at the Fletcher Free Library. (Sarah Freedman/Community News Service)
Burlington voter wants to 'get this over with’
8:50 a.m. — A sudden morning snowfall saw voters bundled up to cast their ballots in Burlington.
Aaron Dellacroce, 31, was happy with the “quick and easy” voting at the Fletcher Free Library.
“[My hope is] to get this over with, to get to the next step as quickly as possible,” he said.
Dellacroce is a baker and farmer in Burlington.
-Sarah Freedman
Jahala Dudley, 29, casts a ballot in Colchester. (Aidan Scanlon/Community News Service)
Colchester voter waited long — but not too long — to cast a ballot
8:50 a.m. — Jahala Dudley, a 29-year-old hemp farmer, exits the poll wearing a blue puffy jacket and mustard yellow hat to keep the cold at bay.
She’s come into the polls in Colchester to drop off her ballot after waiting too long to mail it in.
“That’s called procrastination, but I made it happen,” says Dudley.
For Dudley, one of her voting concerns is how local politicians will impact her business.
“When I’m voting I’m always thinking of agriculture because it’s my career focus, and when it comes to local politics I’m thinking about how they’ve supported cannabis issues and hemp issues in the past,” Dudley said.
Jahala is also concerned that Vermont’s representatives lack diversity, and that women are underrepresented.
“I hope to see more women in state politics, and national politics” Dudley said.
-Aidan Scanlon
Rebecca Wicke votes in South Burlington. (Adrianna Maher/Community News Service)
South Burlington voter asked to promise not to mail ballot after voting in person
8:50 a.m. — A brisk wind and light snowfall met Rebecca Wicke at the Orchard School in South Burlington. She was accompanied to her voting place by her young son.
“This is such an important election and I wanted to make sure I was here physically to make sure my vote went into the scanner. Not that I didn’t trust it, I just, it's the first year and it's such an important election that I feel comfortable doing it here,” Wicke said.
Wicke does wish that she knew to bring the ballot mailed to her to her polling place. Wicke was asked to sign a document promising not to send in the one at home.
- Adrianna Maher
Milton House candidate Todd Buik. (Kenzie Imhoff/Community News Service)
Milton House candidate predicts high turnout
8:20 a.m. — On a blustery day, after the first snowfall covers the ground in a cold sheet of white, candidate Todd Buik stands outside of the Milton Municipal Office to show citizens his commitment to this year’s election, he said.
“This is my fourth time running for the House of Representatives, District 10,” he said.”We need people representing them.”
Buik predicts a higher voter turn out this year.
“It is always shameful when only 40% of voters show up, so this year we have a real representation,” Buik said.
“And on a day like this,” he smiles under his mask, as he goes to help direct voters to the correct lines as feet freeze in the snow, “It’s important to be here to suffer with them in a way.”
-Kenzie Imhoff
Salisbury family casts votes in-person to avoid mail delays
8:16 a.m. — A fresh layer of snow covered the steps of the Salisbury Town Clerk’s office.
The Ploof family — Wyatt, Tara and their son Ian — stood outside, anxiously waiting to drop their pre-filled ballots into the drop box.
“We were concerned about the amount of time it would take for the ballots to get here in the mail,” Tara said.
Wyatt and Ian shook their heads in agreement.
-Brooke Rubright
Voters brave the cold at the polling place at the Winooski Senior Center, November 3, 2020. (Katie Wynn/Community News Service)
Winooski voter claims registration challenged in Burlington
8:11 a.m. — Jeffrey Spaulding, 39, stood in line bundled up in layers of jackets at his second polling place of the day to submit his ballot in person after his registration was challenged at a Burlington location.
“I’m excited about getting home and getting back to the warmth,” he said. Pointing to the man in front of him wearing Birkenstock sandals, he noted “I’m more admiring of this guy, he doesn’t have socks on for goodness sake that’s impressive.”
Spaulding, a security officer at the UVM Medical Center, worked throughout the COVID pandemic.
“I lived it every day. It was tough and I watched the current Presidential administration not really care about it,” Spaulding said.
Braving the cold at his final polling destination of the day, Spaulding expressed his hopes for his vote in this election. “I’d like to think my vote counts today and I’d like to think things will change after tomorrow.”
-Katie Wynn
Bill Lippert, incumbent Hinesburg representative, doing last-minute campaigning outside Hinesburg Town Hall Tuesday Morning. (Tyler Lederer/Community News Service)
Campaigners begin to overtake voters in Hinesburg
8:10 a.m. — With the morning rush over, Hinesburg Town Hall voting station begins to have more campaigners outside than voters.
Bill Lippert, 70, candidate for Hinesburg State Representative, stands outside the polls every two years to meet voters face-to-face.
“It’s just another way to, particularly during COVID where we’re not interacting with people much, say hello to people who are coming to the polls.”
Lippert is an incumbent, running against challenger Sarah Toscano in this year’s election. He is a Democrat.
Maryse Dunbar campaigns in Essex. (Margo Coppes/Community News Service)
Pro-Trump candidate campaigns in Essex
8:02 a.m. — “We’re really spiraling into a progressive agenda,” said Maryse Dunbar, a Republican candidate for state representative in Essex. “As long as we vote for freedom then we have a chance of keeping it.”
The presidential election represents a crucial decision for the American public, Dunbar said.
“Too many people are looking at the personality [of the candidates] and not looking at the substance. People are looking at [Trump’s] words and actions and it seems harsh and obnoxious but you have to look at all that he’s done in his four years in office.”
The “mainstream media” hasn’t given Trump's presidency fair coverage, Dunbar said.
“There’s so much [of the things he’s done for us], the list is miles long. And you never hear a thing on the news media.”
A Trump victory is important, Dunbar said.
“America’s going down and we need to change things.” Dunbar concludes. “We need another four years in order to right the wrongs.”
-Margo Coppes and Noah Lafaso
Millie Therrien. (Rowan Hawthorne/Community News Service)
Retired voter is focused on national issues
8:02 a.m. — Millie Therrien, 84, of Westford, said she’s not concerned about any local issues, focusing instead on national issues. Therrien is retired.
“I always vote [in person] every election,” Therrien said.
Voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, she says she likes Biden’s “promises and plans for the future.”
-Rowan Hawthorne
Verne Davis votes in Colchester. (Aidan Scanlon/Community News Service)
Republican Colchester voter faces ‘a little anxiety’
7:45 a.m. — The sun starts to break through the clouds as Verne Davis, 65, exits a polling station in Colchester. Davis voted in-person partially because he changed his mind on his mail-in ballot.
“I wanted to change some of the selections I had made on the ballot I was going to send” said Davis.
For many, election day carries a sense of both hope and fear — Verne is no exception.
“A little anxiety but I’m hopeful it’s going to turn out the way I expect,” said Davis.
When asked if he wanted to add anything he simply said, “ Vote Republican”.
-Aidan Scanlon
Winooski voters say in-person voting works for them
7:45 a.m. — A small line of voters stood outside the Winooski Senior Center waiting to be let in to vote. Greg Morris, a first time voter in Vermont and a Winooski resident, was one of the first people to get their vote in.
"I had no reason to feel that voting from home was a necessity," Morris said
Morris declined to say who they picked for President today.
Catherine Horne, a UVM Ph.d. student, shared why they came early and in-person to vote.
"I just love voting in-person," Horne said.
Horne believes the community center has done a great job and she felt no reason to not vote as usual today. Catherine voted for Joe Biden and is looking forward to whats to come this week.
-Ciara McEneany
Casey Mathieu, 39, small business owner in Westford (Rowan Hawthorne/Community News Service)
Former Westford Selectboard member casts vote for Trump
7:42 a.m. — Casey Mathieu walked out of the Westford School polling station with purpose. His blue eyes peeped over the top of his mask as he spoke about his 2020 voting experience.
At 39, this small business owner voted for President Donald Trump both in 2016 and 2020, citing hopes for a brighter future.
On a national level, he’s concerned about debt, healthcare, and the stock market, and locally he’s concerned about high property taxes.
This year, voting in person allowed him to greet to fellow community members, many of whom he knows from his time working on the Select Board.
- Rowan Hawthorne
‘We’ve become such a mean nation’ Colchester voter says
7:36 a.m. — Lesli Ritchie, 60, a technical writer, chose to vote in person because she believes it to be important, and she doesn’t trust the mail right now. Her biggest fear is that President Donald Trump will stay in office, and her biggest hope is that Joe Biden wins.
With her vote, Ritchie hopes to keep Vermont progressive, “and a little weird.” She said, “I told my son, it didn’t used to be like this.”
Ritchie believes the country is a disgrace right now, and [she] cannot believe what [Trump] has gotten away with. She hopes that every person votes in this election.
With tear-filled eyes, she said “I have no words to describe how sad I am that we’ve become such a mean nation.”
-Olivia Allegra
Diego Javier-Jimenez, a chemistry Ph.D. student at UVM, took the day off to go in-person to vote. (Zoe Hulina/Community News Service)
‘I just don’t feel safe with the current administration’
7:33 a.m. — Winooski voters stood six feet apart in the parking lot of the Winooski Senior Center at 7a.m. on Tuesday morning, eagerly waiting in the snow to get their in-person vote counted.
Among these voters was Diego Javier-Jimenez, a chemistry Ph.D. student at UVM, who took a day off to go in-person to vote. “I actually forgot to get an absentee ballot,” He said with a laugh.
Like voters everywhere, Javier-Jimenez went to the polls today with key issues in mind.
“Being a minority, I voted obviously for Biden. I just don’t feel safe with the current administration, I think with the civil unrest that is happening, and also with not denouncing racism.”
- Zoe Hulina
Serena Peck outside of the Georgia School in Georgia, Vermont after dropping off her mail-in ballot at the polls on Tuesday morning. (Brooke McKeen/Community News Service)
Georgia voter hopes for shift in town where Trump won narrowly in 2016
7:30 a.m. — Serena Peck, 52, who works in administration with scholarships and grants at VSAC, dropped off her mail-in ballot at the polls in Georgia, Vermont.
“I felt like I really wanted to have the accomplishment of having dropped it off myself. I did fill it out at home, but I wanted that satisfaction of dropping it in the box,” Peck said.
In the 2016 election, Trump won the town of Georgia by four votes. Peck said that she really hopes there has been a shift in town since the last election, especially based on what she has seen with the current president’s activities and attitude over the last four years.
“I really think that he is the wrong person to be leading this country,” she said. Peck added that this election, she voted for candidates on the local and national level who had people in mind, rather than themselves.
-Brooke McKeen
On Tuesday morning, residents were also able to place their absentee ballots in the secured drop box directly outside the town offices in Shelburne. (Lilly Young/Community News Service)
Shelburne voter finds community on election day
7:25 a.m. — The snow and wind Tuesday morning didn’t stop residents from casting their votes at the town office gym, a polling location in Shelburne. At the door, voters were greeted by the familiar faces of volunteers and poll workers.
47 year-old, Dan McLean said he has always voted in person.
“I think there’s a community aspect to coming out and voting,” McLean said.
McLean voted for Biden this election in hopes that the U.S. will have a different four years moving forward than those we’ve seen with Trump, McLean said.
- Lilly Young
Megan Ashley cast her ballot early Tuesday morning at Hinesburg town hall. (Tyler Lederer/Community News Service)
Hinesburg voters face the cold
7:05 a.m. — Despite being 30 degrees with winds strong enough to knock over lawn signs, Hinesburg voters lined up early at town hall Tuesday morning to cast their ballots.
Megan Ashley, 24, a full-time eBay lister, was there to take in the experience.
“My personal thinking was that I’m a healthy, able-bodied person so I felt I had the opportunity to vote in person,” Ashley said.
As a Democrat concerned about climate change and police brutality, she plans to vote for Joe Biden. She’ll also vote for Phil Scott due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-Tyler Lederer
Election 2020: Student reporters to blanket polling places across the state
Starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, the Community News Service is dispatching student reporters to polling places across Vermont.
The reporters are students at the University of Vermont, as well as at Castleton University, St. Michael’s College and the Community College of Vermont. They’ll be asking voters about this historic election, where for the first time every Vermont voter was mailed a ballot.
Stay tuned as we publish vignettes of Vermont voters all day. All Community News Service content is available free of charge to any Vermont media outlet.
- Cory Dawson, Editor
