Monroe County voters explain what drove them to the polls as early voting breaks record

Monroe County voters explain what drove them to the polls as early voting breaks record

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Early voting wrapped up on Sunday evening with a record number of Monroe County voters casting their ballot before Tuesday’s Election Day.

The Monore County Board of Elections says 130,000 voters cast their ballots. News10NBC’s Tom Kowalski spoke with some voters about what issues are most important to them this November.

“I’m looking out for the future of my grands and my children and myself as I go forward on my journey,” said voter Valerie Quarles.

News10NBC didn’t ask these voters, who he met outside the Board of Elections office in downtown Rochester, who they voted for or what party they belonged to. Simply, what their biggest concerns are in the election. Voter Cacey Christiansen is concerned about their rights as a member of the LGBT+ community.

“This election is super important to me. As someone who is a part of the queer community we have here in Rochester, it wasn’t only so important to vote for all the candidates we have, but also voting yes for the prop one to, you know, prevent discrimination for people like myself,” Christiansen said.

Others, like Deborah Mulford, feel this upcoming election will have consequences for many years to come.

“I was a little emotional now just voting. This is probably the most important election in my lifetime. And I feel so privileged to be able to vote. I’m happy that there’s no violence and that this was a straightforward process. I am just looking forward to the results and hoping that it will be a peaceful outcome,” Mulford said.

“I’m a Black femme woman, and there’s been a long time and a long history of folks like me not being able to vote at all,” voter Isa Reeve said.

Reeve says she’s voting to honor those in the past who couldn’t.

“There are people in our lifetimes that still exist in a time where their parents couldn’t vote, where it was illegal, or they had to pay a poll tax just to vote,” she said. “And that’s crazy. And we do live in a time now where those types of conversations of voter suppression are coming up again. And that’s very frightening. With poll boxes exploding and things of that nature. So I think if anything shows the importance of voting right now, it is that but there’s still people trying to suppress people’s ability to vote. So even if it’s not in whatever direction it’s in doing, it is immensely important.”

News10NBC will have special Election Day coverage all Tuesday evening from the Board of Elections in downtown Rochester.

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