The Greenfield Recorder sent reporters to polling places Tuesday to hear what voters had to say about the candidates appearing on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, including presidential contenders Donald J. Trump, the incumbent, and former Vice President Joe Biden. Here’s a sampling.
Twenty-year-old Matthew Griswold was voting in his first presidential election when he stopped into the polls at Greenfield High School.
“I’m excited about voting in my first big election,” Griswold said. “Let’s just say I’m not going to vote for someone who won’t denounce white supremacy. People have rights. We won’t make any progress with Donald Trump, and I don’t want a race war in my 20s.”
Dan Pittenger of Elm Terrace voted at about 10 a.m., and then he stood outside in the high school parking lot waving an American flag.
“It was really nice and organized in there,” he said, referring to the school gymnasium, where all nine of Greenfield’s precincts vote. “People were helpful and friendly.”
Pittenger said he voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, because he wants to see a woman in the White House.
“It seems right and fitting 100 years after suffrage,” Pittenger said.
Likewise, Pamela Goodwin, who lives in The Weldon on High Street, said she voted for Biden and Harris.
“I voted Democrat all the way down the ticket,” she said.
In Turners Falls, many residents voted at Franklin County Technical School.
John and Pat Zywna voted for Biden and Harris, saying they “just want to see things calm down” and wanted “less drama.”
“We also both voted for [Jim] McGovern and [Ed] Markey,” John Zywna said, referring to the Democratic candidates in the state’s 2nd Congressional District and U.S. Senate races. “They have the experience. They’ve been there for a while.”
Nicole Kelly of Turners Falls has been a registered Independent since she was old enough to vote, and has voted for candidates from both parties over the years.
“Under normal circumstances, I believe in voting for the candidate whose agenda and views best align with my own,” Kelly said. “I was not a fan of either candidate this election, so choosing one came down to what I felt would not only be in the best interest of the country, but also the millions of Americans who live here.”
For Kelly, who voted Biden/Harris, it came down to health care, women’s rights, the 2nd Amendment and tax reform.
“Every American should have access to affordable, quality health care,” she said. “I personally do not agree with abortion unless it’s medically necessary, but with that said, I also don’t believe I have the right to force my view on anyone else.”
Kelly added that she believes gun laws need to be re-evaluated at the federal level, and that everyone should pay their fair share in taxes.
Lee Ann LaRue said she made up her mind four years ago that she would never cast a ballot for Donald Trump.
“I’m not going to vote for anyone who makes fun of disabled people and who grabs women by the (expletive),” she said. “I can’t imagine that anyone would even consider voting for someone who could say those things or do those things. That was from day one.”
Four years ago, LaRue cast her vote for Hillary Clinton.
“I wasn’t really happy about that,” she explained. “I would really have preferred Bernie Sanders, as I would have preferred Sanders this time, as well. But I’m not going to vote a person who does those things that I mentioned, and who promotes hate throughout the country.”
“Honestly, I’m probably going to be voting for Trump,” commented Omar Torres. “For the last four years, I really haven’t seen the Democrats do much. All they’ve focused on is trying to get him out of office. I haven’t seen them accomplish anything that’s worth voting for.”
Torres went with an alternative party nominee in 2016.
“I actually didn’t like either choice, just like I don’t like either choice this year. So, I voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson four years ago.”
Rowena and Bob LaFontaine were also casting their ballots for the incumbent president — no ticket-splitting for this couple.
“We’re united,” Rowena LaFontaine said. “We’re for Trump all the way.”
Henry Sanchez was stopping by the polling station at Town Hall on his way to work.
“I don’t really like the way the last four years have gone,” he said. “There’s been too much craziness, too much division, too much us against them. I think it’s time for a change, and I don’t think that’s going to happen with Trump and his administration. So, I’m voting Biden-Harris.”
Four voters leaving the polls Tuesday morning all cited similar reasons for voting for Biden — that President Trump’s rhetoric is overly divisive and abusive.
“He was not a president for the whole country. He was a president for his own point of view, and did not have any sense of caring for anyone else,” said Jim Farnham.
“I don’t like how he speaks about women,” said Katelyn MacDonald. “How he speaks in general is not very professional. It feels like he doesn’t respect people.”
“Whenever somebody asks him a question, he’ll deny and lie and try to spin the question around. That’s not somebody I want running our country,” said Chris Garcia.
“I feel like (Biden) is a little more mentally able to run the country than Trump is,” said Ellie Burton. “I feel like he’ll deal with COVID and Black Lives Matter better than Trump has so far.”
Buckland voters were largely divided in their positions on the presidential and Senate races.
Jamie Larue, 39, said she does not vote based on party, but based on policy. This year she chose to vote for Biden.
“I disagree with Trump’s policies and how he’s divided this nation among other things,” she said.
Erica Henry, 18, hopes that lots of people will show up to vote to swing the election in favor of Biden.
“I didn’t like Donald Trump since 2016. We need to get him out,” she said
Clayton Herbert cast a ballot for Trump for his economic policies.
“He did what he said he was going to do. People don’t understand the importance of how much money they’ll be spending with tax increases along with fuel, oil, electricity increases. Also with health care and college,” said Herbert, referring to programs Democrats have traditionally pushed for.
For Jeff Rose, who said he voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, the economy was also a deciding factor in his vote of Trump.
“It’s largely because of the help he gives to those with low income. He brings them up,” Rose said.
Trump’s pandemic response was another factor in Rose’s decision.
“He pushed hard to find medicine and a cure,” he said.
Angela Dodge, 53, has lived in Buckland for 30 years and always voted Republican. She voiced support for Trump, saying, “I think he’s done a great job.”
Christopher Law said he cast a vote for the Biden-Harris ticket, as well as for Markey in the Senate race.
“I did it for my wife and my son and all the women in our life. That’s very important to us,” Law said.
For Emmy Howe, the Biden-Harris ticket is a “chance to build a bigger coalition, so people are not so on edge.” She described how a win for the Democrats could hopefully make encounters with friends and acquaintances with differing political views less “itchy.”
Richard Pless, who has always voted Democrat for the presidential election, also voted for Biden, saying he “didn’t like Donald Trump for a long time before he became president.”
Spencer Hayes, 19, cast a ballot for Biden, “because I couldn’t do with Trump for another term.”
Resident Ena Vulor cast her vote for the Democratic candidate in the presidential election.
“I’m not a Democrat; I’m not a Republican either,” Vulor said, noting she’s supported candidates from both parties in past elections. “I vote for the candidate, not the party.”
She said she voted for Biden because “a lot is at stake.”
“We need a lot of change,” she said. “That’s what brought me out (to vote).”
Eric Trueswell, a political science student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, also cast his vote for Biden.
“The past four years have been something that has really gotten me into politics, just because of my strong disagreement with a lot of the actions of President Trump,” he said. “I definitely think this is my moment to show where I stand on that.”
Although she voted for Biden, Carlyn Dahlkes said she wasn’t overly impressed with either the Republican or Democratic candidates.
“Even if he’s not the best candidate, at least he’ll try to help things go back in the right direction,” she said. “I don’t want four more years of the same thing.”
Joshua Mogus, a graduate student at UMass Amherst, voted not for Trump or Biden, but for the Libertarian candidate, Jo Jorgensen. Mogus said he takes issue with what he believes is a habit of “gross overspending” on behalf of both parties.
Several of the voters the Recorder spoke with outside the polling station at Town Hall, though willing to speak on ballot questions, declined to share which candidates they voted for.
Victor Russo was one such voter, who said this election was particularly “special” because of vastly different approaches of the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Trisha Moody, who also declined to share who she voted for in the presidential election, said this election was just as important as any other election. She said she intentionally chose to cast her ballot Tuesday morning because she’s a “traditionalist” — she enjoys the opportunity to come to the polls on Election Day.
Charles Parham said he cast his vote for Biden.
“I always vote, but especially in this situation,” he said. “Voting is our way of choosing what’s going to happen with this country.”
Andrew Vernon said he voted for Biden, and Democrats in all the other races, because he wants to reduce the political influence of large corporations.
“I think that, the corporate thing, if you undo that, you end up with an easier time with racism, you end up with an easier time with education — you can solve a lot of problems with that,” he said.
Mason Whiteman said he voted for Trump because his tax policies have benefited the company he works for.
“It’s huge. That’s the majority of the reason why,” he said.
Dan Canon said he voted for Biden because “he’s more mature” than Trump.
“I just don’t like how (Trump) approaches issues,” Canon said. “He’s combative and divisive.”
Louise Legouis said she voted for Biden for a more civil and inclusive society.
“The maintenance of civil society is key,” she said. “Including people of all backgrounds, all colors, all genders.”