Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Election excitement
As early voting kicked off Monday, residents were lined up at many sites across South Florida.
Palm Beach County residents eager to cast a ballot lined up by the dozens for the first day of early voting Monday.
Election officials said the opening day ran smoothly, and the county was on track to break a voting record as of 5 p.m.
“I think people are excited about the presidential election,” said Susan Bucher, elections suasperation for Palm Beach County. “We hope it keeps up like this.”
Voters waded through election volunteers, campaign signs and local candidates to wait in lines that lasted as long as an hour. For some, it was a historic moment as voters had their first opportunity to vote for a woman as a Democratic nominee for president in the general election.
For others, it was an opportunity to demonstrate their ex- with Washington politics.
“The politicians have stayed the course, and it doesn’t work,” said Henry Eisner, 74, who is voting for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. “We won’t have a country if it keeps going the way it does.”
In Boca Raton, small crowds gathered outside the library that doubled as a polling locapervisor
tion. They handed out fliers, discussed local issues and talked up local candidates.
Richard Calabrese, 65, a dentist from Boca Raton, and his wife, Angela, 66, voted early because they wanted to vote together with hopes the lines wouldn’t be too long.
“We take the responsibility of voting seriously,” he said. The Calabreses said they voted for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“You have to know the system to work effectively in Washington,” Richard Calabrese said. “Otherwise, it’s just like walking into a buzz saw.”
Meanwhile, Patti Dervishi, 70, stood nearby to promote the Republican nominee.
As she stood outside the library, wearing a red Trump hat and carrying a matching campaign sign, a man in his mid-30s confronted her with expletives, telling her, “I’ll grab your [expletive].”
After the dust-up, Dervishi remained in the lot, undeterred.
“I have three military [relatives] and two sheriffs in my family, and they’re going to quit if Hillary gets in,” she said. “I know she’s a socialist and will bring down America.”
In Delray Beach, about 100 people were waiting in line about noon at Hagen Ranch Road Library. At its height, it took about 40 minutes to an hour to vote.
With the parking lot full, some voters drove around until a parking spot opened.
Veronica Block, 46, a photographer from Delray Beach, said she was “so proud” to cast a ballot for Clinton on the first day of early voting, recalling how she had tears in her eyes as she left the voting booth.
Of her voting for Clinton, she said, “She is the most prepared person for this campaign, for this country.”
On the controversies surroundings Clinton’s emails, Block said, “She made a mistake. I’m not very happy about what happened, but we should forgive her and move on.”
While the atmosphere remained congenial, there was an occasional outburst. A voter driving away from the library rolled down her window and said, “I don’t want a pervert for president!” A bystander replied. “A what? No, you want a liar!”
Early voting runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 6. Palm Beach County residents can find early voting locations near them on the county elections website.