Issues including the economy, the Israel-Hamas war, immigration and healthcare were on voters’ minds in Hanover and Henrico counties Tuesday morning.
Zavier Peace voted at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Henrico, and said while he’s not happy with how the Biden administration has dealt with the Israel-Palestine conflict so far, he’s hopeful that Harris would back a ceasefire once elected.
“I just know children should not be getting bombed,” Peace told VPM News, adding that some of his friends opted not to vote at all because of the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
The conflict was also top of mind for Hanover resident and Army veteran Randy Baker when he went to vote.
“We just sent 100 soldiers to Israel along with missile defense force. That's not our country. We have no obligation to them,” Baker told VPM News. “Why are we protecting other countries? It's not our job.”
Numerous voters, including 21-year-old Caden Kazos, expressed concerns about the economy and the cost of living in their decision to vote for Donald Trump.
Kazos, a Hanover resident, said he voted for the first time Tuesday – and is saving up money to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend and a plot of land.
“Especially if you have a job that's not pulling in over six figures, it can be really stressful,” Kazos said.
Hanover resident Ashley Petersen echoed similar concerns. She hopes a Trump presidency would result in tax cuts and a decline in food prices.
“It just keeps going up and up and up and up and up,” Petersen said. “There is no down. We need down.”
Derrick Rosser, another Hanover resident who voted for Trump said, “I don't know how young families in particular are able to feed their kids and send them to school and day care and all of that. No clue.”
Though Rosser noted that “If I had my choice, would be choosing between two other people” rather than Harris and Trump, citing concerns about Trump’s rhetoric.
Meanwhile, health care access was top of mind for Harris supporters.
Henrico resident Henriette Mayes said she was recently diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome – which impacts one’s hormonal imbalance and can cause infertility.
She’s in her 20s and is starting to think about having a family – adding that she wants as many kids as she can get.
“Having access to a lot more health care options is something that has been on my mind lately,” Mayes told VPM News.
Jenifer Murphy voted in Henrico wearing a T-shirt that said: “I am woman, watch me vote.” She said her mom made shirts for her and her sister.
Murphy, who works in health care, said she wants to “make sure that everybody has the right to receive services” – whatever services they might need.
Hanover resident Kiri Berdan took her three young boys to vote with her.
“A lot of Trump's policies are, ‘Oh, we'll let the states decide,’ which feels like a cop out,” Berdan said – specifically noting issues like abortion access and the right to gay marriage.
Berdan added that she was “’nauseous-ly’ optimistic” about the election results.
“I'm excited for it to be over, and I'm really hoping that we get to celebrate having our first female president,” she said.
Regardless of who wins, Rosser said he hopes “everybody coalesces behind that person, and let's move forward. We need to quit arguing and being so divided, and try to work toward the common good.”
