On Tuesday, New Yorkers made it to their respective polling stations to participate in the 2014 Midterm Elections.
In exercising their civic duty, voters decided who was best for the state by selecting candidates in the Governor and Comptroller races, as well as Congresspersons from their districts.
Based on a conversation with Evel Perez, a Board of Elections Coordinator for Manhattan’s Civic Court site, voting got underway early as New Yorkers headed to work.
“It’s been busy and that’s how we like it,” Perez told Metro at 10 a.m. after a hectic morning. “It’s a testament to the press and the work they put in to make this an important election. Elections are top down, so when candidates and [the press] take it seriously, voters take it seriously.” With a steady stream of visitors arriving at the downtown Civic Court location – some of whom were painfully reminded that courts were closed for Election Day – it was clear the City’s citizens take their democratic responsibility seriously. “As long as we have the right to [vote], we should,” said 67-year-old local Patricia Cruz, “That right is being consistently threatened with laws that are being passed in other states, and if that spreads, we lose our rights.” “I’ve been voting in every election for the past 50 years,” added 87-year-old Lee Epstein. “It’s the way you show that you control the destiny of this country. It’s the only way we have.” As for the big issues concerning New Yorkers in the Midterm election, Cruz hopes for a “greater degree of equity in income.” Meanwhile, a voter who requested she remain anonymous cited “revenue sharing” as a major factor, stressing that NYC should be “trying to get along with Albany to make sure the City gets its share.” “There’s a lot of concerns that I think we have with equal rights,” said Sean Murphy, 29, before admitting that he looks forward to watching New York “continue to be progressive.” As for the Gubernatorial race, interviewed voters represented a split decision when it comes to Cuomo vs. Astorino. Where Murphy and Epstein agreed Cuomo has New York on the right track, Cruz chose to cast her ballot for the Green Party’s Howie Hawkins. The anonymous voter, for her part, isn’t inspired by any of the nominees. “I can’t stand those stupid commercials [for Astorino and Cuomo]. We’re more intelligent than just hearing sound bytes,” she said, “And I can’t stand the way you Photoshop the other’s pictures to make them look bad. That’s the lowest of the low.”
NYC voters discuss big issues, gubernatorial race on Election Day
