South Florida residents are headed to the polls on Election Day, and so are CommunityWire.Miami reporters.
We will visit several polling stations throughout the day to get a sense of the issues voters care about and the candidates they support.
Check here for live updates on what’s happening at local polling stations and what community members are saying about the election.
Miami voter chooses third party presidential candidate
Jesse J. McCrary Jr. Elementary School, Miami, 6:30 p.m.: Anastatia S. Abraham, a Miami
barista and artist, waited patiently to cast her vote at the polling station which was packed.
Disillusioned with both major parties, Abraham ultimately chose Claudia De la Cruz, the Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate.
“The only party I can enthusiastically vote for is the Party for Socialism and Liberation,”
Abraham said. “I want a candidate that cares about the issues I care about and is not afraid to
voice them.”
Abraham, who uses the pronoun they, said their choice was rooted in frustration with the two
major parties and America’s role in global politics, especially international conflicts. Voting third party was a way to resist systems they feel uphold capitalism and global conflict, Abraham said.
“America plays such an important role on the global front on war, and I’m tired of being
complicit,” Abraham said, citing solidarity with Palestinian efforts to end genocide in Gaza as a critical issue.
Abraham expressed strong support for Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational
marijuana in Florida for adults.
“I’m absolutely for legalizing marijuana,” Abraham said. “I got into a really bad accident recently, and marijuana was able to ease a lot of the pain I was having. People should have access to it, and it should be majorly decriminalized for sure.”
Abraham also supported Amendment 4 on abortion rights, highlighting the importance of bodily autonomy.
“People’s rights to their own body are really important to me, and I would never vote for a
person that even talks about women the way Trump does,” Abraham said.
–Kay-Ann Henry
Freshman not allowed to vote
University of Miami freshman Max Rabenstein was not allowed to vote at the Watsco Center polling station on Election Day. His voting precinct is in Tampa. Photo credit: Lucas De Leon
Watsco Center, University of Miami campus, 5 p.m.: University of Miami freshman Max
Rabenstein tried to vote at the Watsco Center polling place Tuesday evening, but he was turned away.
Rabenstein, a registered Republican from Tampa, said he requested a mail-in ballot but never
received it.
“I thought my last chance was to come here and try to vote, but they turned me away,”
Rabenstein said. “I feel my fundamental right to vote has been violated,” Rabenstein said.
Rabenstein said he would have voted for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
because he agrees with Trump policies.
“I am a Catholic individual, and I have strong opinions on Amendment 4 as well as how Trump plans on running the economy,” Rabenstein said. Amendment 4 would protect abortion access in Florida.
Rabenstein does not want abortion to be legal in Florida because he says his religion is against it. He is also against the passing of another popular Florida proposition, Amendment 3, which, would allow the recreational use of marijuana for residents 21 and older.
“I like to keep the streets of Florida clean and would not want the state to turn into states like New York or California where the smell is everywhere,” Rabenstein said.
–Lucas De Leon
West Miami retiree’s vote reflects husband’s wishes
While residents voted Tuesday at the West Miami Recreation Center, the polling station had a higher turnout during early voting, a center employee said. Photo credit: Vanessa Bonilla
West Miami Recreation Center, West Miami, 5 p.m.: Luz Mary Garcia was reluctant to vote
on Tuesday. Originally from Cartago, Colombia, she said she did not feel strongly about either
presidential candidate.
Garcia said she would have stayed home, but her husband, who came to Miami in the Mariel
Boatlift, changed her mind.
“I didn’t want to come but my husband from Cuba can’t vote so I am voting for him,” said Garcia, 61, a retired factory worker.
Her husband was pro Trump so she voted for him.
“I don’t care who wins but my husband says the economy was better with Trump and I agree,”
Garcia said.
–Vanessa Bonilla
Campaign worker voted early for Harris
Campaign worker Sears D’Alemderte promotes Miami Dade School Board candidate Joe Geller at Miami City Hall polling station on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Photo credit: Noah Gulley
Miami City Hall, Coconut Grove, 2 p.m.: Despite a gloomy, rainy day, voter turnout has been
steady at Miami City Hall, with little to no wait time reported by those casting their ballots.
Sears D’Alemderte, 25, a campaign worker for Miami Dade School Board candidate Joe Geller,
spent the day holding up Geller signs and passing out campaign literature. Although he promoted
Geller at the polls, D’Alemderte already had cast his ballot during early voting for Democratic
presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Explaining his vote, D’Alemderte talked mostly about why he could not vote for former
President Donald Trump.
“He is an existential threat to our democracy,” D’Alemderte said, citing the events of Jan. 6,
2021, as a pivotal reason for his decision. Thank God Mike Pence certified the vote,” he said,
calling former Vice President Pence a “true American hero” for upholding the election results
after scores of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
On Florida’s ballot initiatives, D’Alemderte, a Florida International University philosophy
graduate, voted for amendments 3 and 4, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults and protect abortion rights respectively.
“Right now, we have alcohol legalized, which is way worse than marijuana in my opinion,”
D’Alemderte said. “I’d rather that people don’t have to worry about their marijuana being laced.”
Regulated marijuana access offers a safer alternative to the current, unregulated market, he said.
On Amendment 4, D’Alemderte said he believes abortion is justified “until there’s brain
function.” This position, he said, reflects his ethical considerations regarding life and human
rights.
–Noah Gulley
UM musicology professor votes blue
Bella Whitlock, a sophomore finance major and the treasurer of UDems, hands voting flyer to Luca La Monaca, a sophomore economics and political science double major, outside Watsco Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Photo credit: Tracy Ramos
Watsco Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, 2:35 p.m.: Melvin Butler, a musicology
professor at the Frost School of Music, did not let the sporadic rain keep him from casting his
vote on Tuesday.
Butler, 55, says he has lived long enough to be familiar with both presidential candidates and
their work in politics.
“I’ve seen what they’ve done in the past, what it was like under Trump,” Butler said. “I watch a variety of news outlets as well to try to stay up to date.”
Butler said choosing which presidential candidate to vote for was easy.
“Kamala Harris for president,” Butler said. “I mean, it was a no brainer. I feel like her values
align much more with mine in terms of immigration.”
Butler also voted for state and local officials and the proposed amendments.
“The amendment about access to abortion I think is really important,” Butler said. “Giving
women the right to choose what’s in the best interest for their health, I think that is a really
important amendment.”
Butler said he voted Yes to legalize marijuana in Florida.
“I’m not a marijuana smoker myself, but I think it’s been far too long that people have been
criminalized for smoking or possessing marijuana,” he said. “I think it’s a victimless crime that doesn’t need to be punished by imprisonment.”
Butler said he doesn’t know who will win the election but hopes for a peaceful transition of
power.
“I hope there’s no violence and that whoever’s in office will work for the good of all the people in this country and that our politics can be more compassionate than cruel.”
–Tracy Ramos
UM quarterback says Trump won his vote
St. Augustine Catholic is a polling site for Coral Gables residents and University of Miami students. Photo credit: Allie Litzinger
St. Augustine Catholic Church, Coral Gables, 2:47 p.m.: Hurricanes sophomore quarterback
Emory Williams was one of several students who voted Tuesday at the Watsco Center polling
station near campus.
Williams, a Republican from Milton in the Florida Panhandle, said he was backing former
President Donald Trump.
“I voted for Donald Trump,” said Williams, “not necessarily because I agree with all his ideas
and policies, but it’s just that I completely disagree with the other side.”
Williams, a history and international studies major, voted No on Amendment 4, which would
protect abortion access in Florida.
“For 4, it goes against my values, things I stand for,” Williams said. “I’m a religious person; I’m a Christian. I know it’s a sensitive subject but for me it’s always gonna be No.”
Williams also voted No on Amendment 3, which would open up the use of recreational
marijuana to those 21 and up.
“It’s a silly reason but sometimes I don’t like going around and smelling marijuana 24/7,”
Williams said.
-Allie Litzinger
Jewish-American says Trump is good for Israel
Republican Joseph Salzverg, 36, shows support for his cousin, Danny Rodriguez, a Democratic candidate for South Miami City Commission, Tuesday, Nov. 5, at South Miami’s Gibson-Bethel Community Center. Photo credit: Jaya Williams
Gibson-Bethel Community Center, South Miami, 2:30 p.m.: Despite the downpour, the scene was lively at the Gibson-Bethel Community Center, where mostly South Miami residents voted
Among them was Joseph Salzverg, 36, a government law attorney who was able to cast his vote in under 20 minutes.
Salzverg said that as a first-generation Jewish-American, one issue in particular made it easy for him to vote for former President Donald Trump.
“I voted for Donald Trump for the first time in my life and my biggest reason was his steadfast support of Israel,” Salzverg said. “We can’t go back with this rise of anti-Semitism, so that rose to be my number one issue by far.”
Also on the Florida ballot are six amendments, two of which – Amendments 3 and 4 – have stirred a lot of public debate.
Salzverg, who graduated from the University of Miami in 2010 with a degree in political science, declined to say how he voted on the two amendments.
“I can’t say where I stand and I don’t know which way it will go, but I know it is driving people to the polls,” Salzverg said. “That’s why these two are like the biggest topics for this year’s election.”
Salzverg emphasized the importance of maintaining civil discourse, even among those with differing political views. His cousin, Danny Rodriguez, is running for South Miami City Commission under the Democratic Party.
“I’m a Republican,” Salzverg said. “So, it’s important to not only listen to people that agree with you politically, it’s OK to disagree. It is OK.”
–Jaya Williams
No lines at Little Havana polling station
Showing off his “I Voted” sticker, Florida International University Jose Castellanos says he chose Donald Trump for president Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Shenandoah Elementary polling station. Photo credit: Brandon Blanco
Shenandoah Elementary School, Little Havana, 2 p.m.: Jose Castellanos, a 20-year-old
junior and first-time voter was eager to vote and happy it took no time.
“The process was pretty fast. There was no line, around 20 minutes total,” said Castellanos, a student at Florida International University.
Castellanos is voting for Donald Trump but made it clear that he does not care for the former
president nor his challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“To be honest, I don’t like either of the primary candidates, but I do like JD Vance and I feel like if we give Donald Trump a chance, then JD Vance has a chance to run for the next eight years after.”
Castellanos is also a big fan of Amendment 3 on the Florida ballot, which would legalize
marijuana for adults.
“I like marijuana and think it has great medicinal purposes,” Castellanos said.
He voted No on Amendment 4, which would protect abortion access in Florida.
“Right now, the abortion limit is six weeks,” Castellanos said of Florida’s six-week abortion ban that would take effect in May. “I am good moving it to eight weeks or two months, but anything after that is too drastic.”
–Brandon Blanco
‘We need a strong leader like Trump’
Voters bide their time while waiting to vote Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the Watsco Center. Photo credit: Ava Majdanski
Watsco Center, University of Miami campus, Coral Gables,1 p.m.: Jacob Thibideau,
a 28-year-old content creator, was excited to vote on Tuesday for former President
Donald Trump.
“I believe Trump is a strong leader and his fiscal policies make sense given the
profession I am in,” Thibideau said.
Thibideau, who is originally from Virginia, voted for Trump in the 2016 election against
Hillary Clinton but did not vote in the last election.
“I am impartial about legalizing recreational marijuana,” said Thibideau. “I did vote in
support of Amendment 3, but I do not feel strongly about it,” he added.
Amendment 3 would allow individuals over the age of 21 to purchase cannabis without
a doctor’s recommendation. It would also decriminalize the possession of up to 3
ounces of cannabis for personal use.
On Amendment 4, Thibideau was more adamant. The amendment would protect
abortion access in Florida.
“I am Catholic, so I am a big believer that, after a certain period, abortion should be
illegal,” Thibideau said. “It is inhumane,” he added. “I do not support Amendment 4 and
did not vote in support of it.”
–Ava Majdanski
First-time voter prefers Trump
Car salesman Andres Chiossone: ‘Trump is one of us.’ Photo credit: Dara Karadsheh
Simpson Park Recreation Center, Downtown Brickell, 12:45 p.m.: Even under the overcast
skies and suffocating humidity of this Election Day, Andres Chiossone, 24, said he felt that it
was important to do his civic duty and cast his first presidential ballot for Donald J. Trump.
The car salesman said he felt the current administration and Kamala Harris are too far removed from the average American to be genuine in their promises.
“It seems that people are working more in the background,” Chiossone said. “I feel so, like, far
away from them. I feel like they’re not telling me what’s really going on, as well as how they’re using our money.”
Trump, on the other hand, has a more genuine regard for the American people, Chiossone said.
“He wants to do everything for us, and he is a part of us. It kind of feels like he is more one of us than Biden or Harris is,” he said.
Chiossone said he wanted to vote in this election, specifically for Trump, to do his part in
ensuring there is change in America.
“We’d just be getting four more years of the same group,” Chiossone said. He said he believed
the Biden/Harris administration to be detrimental to the economy, which is concerning to him as a young professional.
“I just think right now is an important time… especially like here, you don’t see many young
people coming to vote,” he said.
Chiossone also said he felt it was important to make his voice heard in regards to Amendments 3 and 4.
He said he voted “Yes” on Amendment 3, citing the economic benefits of opening medical
marijuana sales to the public aged 21 and older in Florida.
As for Amendment 4, Chiossone said he felt abortion was a complicated issue, which he debated internally.
“With abortions, obviously, we’re killing people. It’s crazy,” he said. “But like, there are also a lot of people in situations who need that, like a young child that could potentially ruin their life by having a child right now. And, you know, financially and mentally, it’s a whole big issue.”
However, Chiossone ultimately voted “No” on Amendment 4.
“If everybody votes yes, we’re going to end up having way too many abortions and people are
just going to be killing babies just because they don’t want to have a child,” he said. “I don’t
think that’s right.”
–Dara Karadsheh
Health care employee backs Harris
Watsco Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, 12:30 p.m.: Brianna Martinez arrived at
the Watsco Center polling station Tuesday ready to vote in her second presidential election and for her second Democratic candidate.
Martinez, who voted for President Joe Biden in 2020, said she grew up in a poor community in
Eagle Pass, Texas, and thinks Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, is familiar
with the struggles of low-income people. That was a deciding factor for her support of Harris,
Martinez said.
“She seems more relatable than Trump,” Martinez said, referring to Republican candidate,
former President Donald Trump.
Martinez’s job as a patient representative at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center, next to the polling location, influenced her choices especially when it came to Amendment 4.
Since Amendment 4, which would protect abortion access in Florida, is healthcare related,
Martinez is concerned that if it does not pass the government will continue to interfere with
healthcare, making her job harder.
She also felt passionately about Amendment 3, which would legalize marijuana use for adults 21 and older.
“I am strongly against Amendment 3, because I believe it will pave the way for an increase in
drug addiction and other harmful behaviors,” she said. She could see the effects of this due to her experience in the healthcare industry.
–Raul Aguirre Jr.
Trump voter: ‘We can’t put this country in the wrong hands’
People wait outside of the Watsco Center on University of Miami’s campus to cast their votes for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Photo credit: Sophia Orris
Watsco Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, 12:30 p.m.: Dailin Vega, 31, views her
election choices through her experience as an immigrant from Artemisa, Cuba.
“I voted for Trump,” said Vega, a registered Republican. “I believe that everyone is immigrating to this country because this is the country of opportunity, and we can’t put this country in the wrong hands.”
Vega, a Miami Realtor, waited around 30 minutes during her lunch break to cast her vote. She
shared the importance of her voice being heard.
“I came from a communist country,” Vega said. “I literally escaped communism. I vote because this is a free country, and we have the privilege to vote.”
Vega also voted for Amendment 3, which legalizes marijuana for adults.
“I voted against it because I believe whether you have an abortion at a couple months, or seven months, you are killing a baby,” Vega said.
“I voted to legalize it because I think a lot of people already have medical prescriptions, and if
the government allows special areas for it, people won’t have to do it illegally,” she said.
Another measure on Florida’s ballot is Amendment 4, which would protect abortion in the state.
–Sophia Orris
‘It was easy’
Voters head inside the Dorothy Quintana Community Center, site of Precinct 599 in the 2024 Presidential Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Credit: Daniel Braz
Roberto Clemente Park, Wynwood, 12:30 p.m.: As the chickens crowed and the rain drizzled off and on at Roberto Clemente Park, about 10-20 voters streamed in and out of the Dorothy Quintana Community Center.
One of those voters was Sunny Jain, a 39-year-old Republican and computer engineer who moved here from Indianapolis 10 months ago.
Immigration and the economy were the top issues on his mind when he cast his ballot this afternoon.
“I voted for Trump,” Jain said. “I don’t see any changes from the last four years, and I don’t think someone who’s been there for the last four years will do anything for the next four years.”
Although Jain voted a straight Republican ticket, he also voted Yes on Amendment 3, which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
“People will do it anyways, so I would rather legalize it and make money for Florida,” he said.
As for his individual experience at the polling place, Jain said it was easy and that there wasn’t much of a wait.
“I was in and out in two minutes,” Jain said.
–Daniel Braz
Sophomore silent on presidential race but supports marijuana amendment
Voters say they had about a 10-minute wait around noon at the Watsco Center. Photo credit: Leo Gordon
Watsco Center, University of Miami campus, Coral Gables,11:27 a.m.: Voters queued
quietly outside the Watsco Center where campaign signs promoted Vice President Kamala
Harris and Amendment 4, the pro-abortion measure that would overturn Florida’s six-week
abortion ban.
It was humid and windy, with some light rain as voters waited and chatted with each other
before they entered the polling station.
Sophomore Zach Duncan says he gives full support to Amendment 3, which would legalize marijuana in Florida.
Zach Duncan, 19, a sophomore finance and accounting major from Huntington Beach,
California, said he was eager to vote for legalizing marijuana in the state of Florida. Amendment 3, if passed by 60% of the voters, would allow adults 21 and older to buy and consume cannabis without a doctor’s recommendation,
“I feel that if you want to do a drug that will only harm you and not others, you should be free to do so,” Duncan said.
Duncan, a registered Republican, declined to comment on his selection for president or his
stance on Amendment 4.
“At the end of the day, my ballot is the only thing that matters, and my views don’t make a
difference whether they are shared or not,” Duncan said.
–Leo Gordon
