“Civic duty” and similar phrases were used most often Tuesday when voters at both Guy Benjamin School in Coral Bay and Julius E. Sprauve School in Cruz Bay were asked what made them come out to vote.
“My vote counts,” Sherece Smith said, as she headed into Sprauve School to vote.
Clemmie Moses, a veteran of the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina, said she votes because others fought hard so she’d have that right.
“I never miss a vote,” Moses said.
George “Jug” Courlis spoke about the issues as he headed back to his car in Coral Bay.
“Infrastracture to support greater growth,” he began, ticking off a list that included improved technology.
Trish Capuano, also voting in Coral Bay, listed education as the top of her priority list.
“You have to start with the children and make everything better,” she said.
Coincidently, the territory’s top teams showed up at Sprauve School around the same time. Gov. John deJongh Jr., Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis and their wives had just spent time shaking hands with supporters when gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Mapp and his running mate, Malik Sekou, arrived to do the same.
“We’re visiting all the polls and getting all the votes out,” Mapp said.
Meanwhile, Sekou was busy discussing his Sewer family tree with supporters. One even brought old family photos to share.
DeJongh wasn’t headed to Coral Bay but said he was aware of the extensive mudslide damage caused by Hurricane Otto. He said that the government has applied to the Federal Highway Administration for help in fixing the roads.
On another topic, deJongh said that the number of voters turning out for this election appeared to be ahead compared to the same time frame in the 2006 election.
While some supporters in both Coral Bay and Cruz Bay said early in the day that they thought the turnout was slow, election officials disagreed.
“It’s a steady stream when you have a governor’s race,” said Gwendolyn Hyndman, who was in charge of the Sprauve School polling place.
Yvonne Wells, who ran the Guy Benjamin polling place, talked about the help election workers are prepared to give handicapped and elderly voters. Since the classroom used for voting doesn’t have a ramp, she said that the workers will assist those who need help up the step into the classroom. Additionally, they have a device so people who are hard of hearing can understand the instructions.
Slews of supporters turned out in both Cruz Bay and Coral Bay to support their candidates. While those who were behind the gubernatorial teams were most numerous, plenty of senatorial candidates had folks on the spot.
Abigail Hendricks was supporting senatorial candidate Tregenza Roach, who lives on St. Thomas.
“He believes in St. John. He’s not a politician, but he’s trying to do the right thing,” she said outside Sprauve School
Steven Payne promised that his brother, senatorial candidate Clarence Payne, would be a voice for young people.
“And I’m going to hold him to his promise,” he said, standing outside Guy Benjamin School.