Delawareans experienced a mix of emotions, including disbelief, shock, and frustration, as they were confronted with long lines at the polls on the first day of early voting.
The number of people going out to vote in Delaware will almost certainly break previous early voting records, according to a Department of Elections spokesperson.
“Yes, early voting sites statewide are incredibly busy today,” said Cathleen Hartsky-Carter, an Elections Department spokesperson.
By 3 p.m. on Friday, a total of 14,502 individuals had already cast their votes, according to Hartsky-Carter. This figure surpasses the overall number of early voters during the 2024 primary election, which amounted to 18,530 over the course of ten days.
Early voting in Delaware reflects national numbers
Delaware’s high turnout is in line with national numbers which show millions of Americans voting every day since early voting started – either in person or by returning mail-in ballots.
According to the University of Florida Election Lab, nearly 30 million Americans have already cast their votes early, either in-person or through mail ballots. This number is constantly being tracked and updated on a daily basis.
Over 100 million individuals took advantage of early voting in 2020, contributing to a total of approximately 158 million votes in the election that ultimately resulted in the victory of President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
Surprise meets excitement in long Delaware lines
Karole Meade, a resident of Bear, Delaware, was among the voters who arrived at the Department of Elections Warehouse on Lisa Drive in the early afternoon on Friday. To her surprise, she found a long line that stretched around the building in the New Castle area.
“I can’t believe it,” she exclaimed as she joined the back of the queue.
In the past, whenever she voted early, Meade mentioned that she would arrive, cast her vote, and then depart.
“I’ve never experienced standing in a line before,” she mentioned, expressing her satisfaction in witnessing people gathering together.”
Meade stated that she is ready to wait in line for as long as necessary.
More than 100 voters patiently waited in line at Crossroad Church on Route 13 in Dover, just across from Walmart, around 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
Lydia Young stood patiently at the end of a long line that stretched all the way from the door to the back of the parking lot.
“I’ve been a resident here for 17 years, and I have never witnessed anything like this,” Young expressed. “Usually, I prefer to cast my vote on Election Day, but given the circumstances surrounding this special election and the recent news coverage, I decided to take advantage of the early voting option.”
Jim Murray expressed his surprise at the considerable turnout of voters on Friday. He shared his keen interest in this election, particularly the presidential race.
Murray expressed his reluctance to wait until November 5th.
According to one of the individuals tasked with guiding drivers towards available parking spaces, the influx of voters has remained consistent ever since the polling location opened its doors.
Impatience over long lines, political divide
The line to vote early in Newark on Friday afternoon was incredibly long, stretching around the Hudson State Service Center for two and a half hours.
As the line extended into the parking lot and beyond, voters eagerly conversed with one another. Some of them carried wrappers and coffee cups from the nearby Wawa, adding to the sense of a community coming together.
Reproductive rights took center stage in the minds of many voters, including Stephanie Duncan of Newark, who shared that she is expecting her first daughter. While this issue dominated conversations in the queue, each individual had their own unique motivation for exercising their right to vote.
Wendy Valdes, a resident of Newark, expressed her concerns about Social Security and Medicare as she prepares to retire from nursing after an impressive 52-year career in December.
“I want to enjoy the rewards of all my hard work,” she expressed.
Some people simply appreciate fulfilling their civic responsibility.
“Voting is a privilege,” expressed Mei Johnson of Newark, who shared that she was adopted from China during her childhood.
Both sides of the political spectrum expressed a desire for unity amongst voters.
Dennis LaFazia, a resident of Bear, expressed his desire for a peaceful outcome, regardless of the election results. Similarly, Ingrid Bostic, who resides near Newark, expressed her longing for unity within America.
Tracy Baker, a resident of Newark, expressed her desire to move forward in life, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. “I feel like I’ve reached a point of saturation,” she shared.
As voters approached the polling stations, their frustration grew due to the increasing amount of time they had to wait in line.
Sylvie Monette of Newark expressed her frustration about the limited number of polling stations that were open as she finally reached the front of the line.
“When asked what issue was on her mind, she responded by saying, ‘More polls should open.'”
Sussex County surpasses turnouts elsewhere in Delaware
In the first two hours of voting, voters in Sussex County exhibited a strong turnout, surpassing their northern neighbors by over 1,000 votes.
While waiting in line to vote at American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro, a Trump supporter and a Harris supporter engaged in a heated exchange. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the Trump supporter delivered a heartfelt speech, expressing his pride for everyone who had shown up to vote, regardless of their political preferences. The line of voters responded with applause, appreciating the sentiment.
Barbara and Brian Ferrenz, dedicated volunteers for the 41st Representative District Democrats, spent the entire day in Millsboro. When the doors finally opened at 11 a.m., they were astounded to see a line that wrapped through the parking lot. Even though the line had diminished to approximately 125 people by 1:15 p.m., it was still the shortest they had witnessed throughout the day.
Several voters caused a traffic jam on Route 24 in the vicinity.
Charles and Trudy Frederick decided to cast their votes early for the first time. They were aware of the expected crowds and wanted to ensure that their votes were counted accurately.
A woman in line explained that she has upcoming travel plans in the next few weeks, making Friday the most convenient day for her to cast her vote.
When questioned about their decision to vote early, many individuals simply shrugged.
“It’s just something to do,” one woman explained as she enjoyed the pleasant weather. “It’s such a beautiful day.”
This Article Includes
