As New Yorkers Hit the Polls, Bronx Residents Share Why They Voted

In the nine days of early voting that kicked off on Oct. 26, just shy of 1.1 million New Yorkers had already made it to the polls, according to NYC’s Board of Elections. The numbers rivaled that of 2020, which saw 30,000 more people cast an early ballot.

New York had a high turnout of early voters in this year’s historic election, which has former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris fighting for the White House on Tuesday.

In the nine days of early voting that kicked off on Oct. 26, just shy of 1.1 million New Yorkers had already made it to the polls, according to NYC’s Board of Elections. The numbers rivaled that of 2020, which saw 30,000 more people cast an early ballot.

In the Bronx, which had the lowest turnout of the five boroughs, making up 14 percent of the early voting pool, residents casting ballots said myriad concerns propelled them to the polls. From the country’s inability to handle a high influx of immigrants, to homelessness, housing shortages and inflation.

And although the Bronx reportedly hasn’t backed a Republican candidate for president in 100 years, several in the borough who spoke to City Limits said they would vote for Trump. In late May, the former President held a rally in the South Bronx’s Crotona Park at an event that ushered in thousands of supporters.

The election is so far hard to predict, with many polls saying it will be a close call.

For those who are yet to vote in New York City, polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and the New York City Board of Elections expects it to be a busy day.

Voters must cast ballots at the poll site assigned to their election district, which they can look up here. New Yorkers can check this map to see what wait times are like at their designated voting site.

And while you wait, read more on how the candidates’ views on immigration and climate change can shape policies in New York, and about the first proposal on the back of your ballot, which is looking to shore up the state’s abortion protections.

And read on below to hear what those who voted early in the Bronx had to say about why they cast their ballots.

Azelle J. Williams, 62: “I wanted to vote in this election because I’m tired of dirty politics playing its games on the poor and unfortunate,” Williams said. “I’m an independent person, so I would like for there to be more opportunities for independent Black women in this area.”

Washington Carrera, 57: “Every single vote counts. A vote could make the difference. [I’m voting for] equal opportunity [and] less harassment from the authorities. It looks like [that might change if Harris is elected]. But the only way to find out is if she is in the president’s seat. After four years, maybe after two years, maybe after six months, we’ll really know what’s behind [her words].”

Daniel Camatra, 40: “I’m voting for Trump this year. This year for me is more policy driven,” said Camatra. “I have been following Trump and Kamala and Walz and Vance, and the teams that are surrounding them. To me it wasn’t just about voting for Trump, it’s more about the team that is surrounding him and the policies that they are proposing.”

Tiara Suazo, 21: “I want to speak for my generation that we all need job opportunities in this economy. I am hoping that this is an issue that could be resolved.”

Wilfredo Raymundo Jiminian, 48: “In the last four years, I saw that the economy has been declining a lot. It has been very bad, getting worse every day,” said Jiminian. “I think that the only way [out of it] is Donald Trump because he is a person who has a lot of knowledge about the economy, the management of the country, and is experienced in business. I think that’s the ideal person that this great nation needs right now.”

Marcus Williams, 38: “I cannot do another Trump presidency so that’s number one on my list of hell nos,” said Williams. “The way he moved during the pandemic was crazy and I lost a lot of people during the pandemic. I am an independent voter. The options sometimes are always trash but I’m older now, you gotta be more pragmatic, so that’s where I’m at. And Kamala is dope.”

Rafael Lebron, 56: “I‘m concerned about the economy, how many jobs are going to be available for American workers with companies going overseas…leaving the United States to find cheap labor in poor countries where they can take advantage of those people. I think that’s unfair and has never been addressed by any president in a serious way,” said Lebron. “I see Trump as an accomplished man, and I don’t see him as a racist at all. He is way too smart to be a racist. He may have antagonisms towards people who call him a racist, but I don’t think he is a flat out racist.”

Ms. Yates, 68: “Harris and Walz are the most intelligent as far as education [is concerned], and they have the ability to move this country forward in an honest direction. Truth is important and that is what we are looking for.”

Nelson Martinez, 19: “[I’m voting] mainly because of drug abusers and the homeless people that are on the streets and the city, just sort of neglecting them and abandoning them. The Democratic Party has constantly said they are going to fix or try to fix that and provide aid and shelters for rehab, detox and for things like that.”

Jamelle James, Sr., 37: “I’m from the south and there’s people that are struggling to recover… from Hurricane Helene. What drove me to vote for Trump is that they are giving all these migrants, all this money…hotels. You know, giving them benefits, but we have national disasters going on.”

Kelly Moyher, 45: “I mean, at the end of the day, I feel like there should be a woman president. That’s what I feel. I feel like we need to lead the country, you know, so that’s what I feel at the end of the day. Got to be a woman.”

Richard Guadeloupe, 51: “Kamala. I voted for the family, I believe in the family. I’m a family man. I need to see what’s gonna go on with my future, my kids,” said Guadeloupe. “I’m Puerto Rican, so are my ancestors, so are my future family members. I don’t see them having a chance of getting that job they’re studying for. It’s scary, the white supremacy.”

This piece was produced for City Limits and the Mott Haven Herald/Hunts Point Express with reporting by student journalists at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY: Valerie Dowret, Tiara Brownie, Rebecca Raghunath, Frances Sacks, Cherry Salazar, Marina Samuel and Usha Sookai. With editing by City Limits’ Mariana Simões.