The Current’s reporters are visiting precincts in Coastal Georgia throughout Election Day to talk to voters. Here’s what we’re hearing.
Bryan County
Ellayna Bacon, 26, was a first-time voter up until Tuesday had not previously been deeply engaged in politics. She voted for Kamala Harris, partially with her three young daughters in mind. “I think I’m going to start taking it seriously, they’ve got to grow up in this world.” Bacon resonated with Harris’s stance on reproductive rights. “I grew up in a Christian home, but as I grew up having children–their dads are absent. I feel like you should be able to control your body.”
Daniel Hernandez, 57, had been a lifelong Republican voter until four years ago. He believes that Trump is too “unstable and chaotic” to be president and so he cast his ballot for Kamala Harris. Hernandez felt he could not look past the events of Jan. 6, 2021. “I want my old party back,” says Hernandez. “It’s changed ON me. I kind of felt a little betrayed that this man who for most of his adult life was a Democrat becomes a Republican. And then he becomes the spokesperson for the Republican party, which I find absurd.”
Rick Shores, 22, was a first-time voter supporting Trump. “I just felt like I wasn’t doing it justice if I didn’t vote,” said Shores. “Not 100% of the way do I agree with either person. But I felt I was leaning more this way because he’s [Trump] been saying things that apply to my life more. ” Shores feels like Trump’s experience previously as president gives him an edge, and aligns with Trump’s promise of no taxes on social security or overtime.
Jennifer Vail, a retired U.S. Army soldier, brought her two sons to vote with her at their Richmond Hill precinct. Jaylen, 18, cast his vote for the first time while her youngest Dylan, 14, came to get inspired for when it’s his turn. Jaylen never had any doubts about whether he would vote, “My vote counts a lot to the overall idea of democracy in general. It felt good putting out my voice.” Vail, a retired U.S. Army veteran, voted for Kamala Harris –- she resonated with her stance on reproductive rights and veterans affairs.
Juan Martinez, 25, is a first-time voter who supports Donald Trump. Immigration was a top issue for Martinez. “I am Puerto Rican, but I do agree with border control. I don’t agree with illegals coming in here illegally, you have to do it the right way.” Martinez didn’t align with all of Trump’s actions, but felt he would ultimately be better for America. “I wouldn’t say he’s a great guy, but to help the country? He’ll definitely do that.”
Anthony Rogers, a 37-year-old Richmond Hill resident voted for Kamala Harris. He said he felt that the Trump campaign criticism about her alleged failures as vice president were unfounded. He said concerns about Trump’s actions after Jan 6 contributed to his support of Harris. “I’m fearful for Trump, but also excited for what Harris can do.”
Laura Skellie disagreed with Harris more than she was avidly a fan of Trump. She voted for the former president, in the end, saying that she felt that Harris’s identity had usurped her policies. “I feel that her being a female was pushed more than her values,” the 37-year-old said. She also disagreed with Harris on issues of gun control.
— Gillian Goodman
Bulloch County
Lorene Gunn announced both her age — 76 — and the novelty of appearing at her polling place Tuesday. “This is my first time voting,” she said as she maneuvered her rollator up the concrete ramp to the precinct in Portal.
Inside the church social hall, a poll worker showed Gunn how to manage the computer voting screen. It took her longer than some experienced voters, but she did it. A friend from church had convinced her voting was not only her civic duty, but also her religious duty. And the friend drove 45 minutes to deliver her to the polls, where she voted a straight Republican ticket, she said. “Never did I understand all that stuff,” Gunn said afterward.” For Christians it’s important to vote. I didn’t know.”
Z’niyah Taylor, 18 and a recent high school graduate, voted for Kamala Harris at at the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church because she believed in the vice president’s policies. “I just felt it was an important election,” she said.
Ternisha Davis, 44, said her 24-year-old son voted in this election, leaving her as the odd one out in a family of voters. “My mom and dad have been on my case about it,” she said. Her pick for president? “Ms. Harris.”
Briahna Willis, 23, arrived at the polling place carrying 2-year-old Deondre and leading 5-year-old Justice by the hand. Willis is “not really into politics” she said. Justice was excited by the event, though. “Mommy, it’s my first time voting, too,” she said. Willis voted because her employer made it clear she was expected to vote and they would be checking to make sure she did. Of course, nobody but Willis knows how she voted. “I’m going to keep that undisclosed,” she said.
— Mary Landers
Chatham County
Marlon Marchena Sr., 61-year-old Pooler resident, said he voted for Donald Trump for U.S. President. He votes Republican every year, since fleeing his native Nicaragua and the communism that took hold in the country. He blames U.S. Democratic leaders for allowing communism to rise and likes that Trump is a “capitalist.” The auto mechanic voted at the Pooler Recreation Center. Of Trump, “He made money. … You have to make money to live in the United States. No give me nothing for free, give me a company (that) give me (a chance) to work.”
— Jake Shore
Glynn County
Paige Spence, 20, an environmental science student at the College of Coastal Georgia, became a first-time voter Tuesday. “I voted for Kamala. And I felt like it was really important that she’s looking after people like me, people in the middle class. And I think it was a really important election for women to vote for, and that’s why I voted for her,” said Spence.
“The issues that matter the most me in the election are especially ones of the reproductive freedom act and really securing the right to women’s healthcare, not just abortion, but healthcare, period,” said Spence.
“If Donald Trump was going to be the Republican nominee, I was going to vote blue. Because any vote that isn’t for Kamala. Is a vote for Donald Trump at that point,” said Spence.
Noelle Valentine, 27, is a childcare specialist, who has lived and worked in Glynn County for six years after moving from Lubbock, Texas, where she went to Texas Tech.
Valentine said she was motivated by Harris’ policies regarding women’s rights. “I voted for Kamala Harris, because I’m pro choice, I’m abortion rights and the like, I lost a family member to a miscarriage gone septic, so it’s kind of a big topic for us,” said Valentine.
“I’m gonna be real. It’s just refreshing not to have an old white guy in office like that. It’s refreshing for us to have someone who looks a little more like me,” said Valentine.
She has concerns about Kamala Harris, but none that affected her choice to vote for her. “I have concerns, yes, but basically all the concerns I have feel like, the kind of thing that would get balanced out during a term like, like, that’s why we have Congress and the Supreme Court.”
Christian Crockett, 22 is a truck washer. Crockett lived in Miami for his whole life before moving to Coastal Georgia. He voted for Harris.
Crockett explained that racial relations were his main concern when casting his vote.
“I voted for Kamala, she more for the people, and Donald Trump. I mean, if you watch his press conferences, he don’t really too much like people my color, and that’s important to me. I can’t vote for somebody that you know blatantly go against what I stand for, and that’s pretty much it,” said Crockett.
“The race, racial issues. We got to get that under control. I mean, of course, it’s not gonna stop completely. You always gonna have some people that just can’t let go of the past, but at the end of the day, you can’t put somebody in office who you know is for the stuff that’s going on towards the black community and other communities,” said Crockett.
Sam Hoover, 21 is an environmental science major at the College of Coastal Georgia. He voted at home in Leesburg. “I voted for Trump, because I just didn’t trust the Democrats for another term,” said Hoover. He said the economy was his motivating factor, as he hopes to see a decline in prices if the Republican comes back to office. Still, he conceded he wasn’t entirely confident in Trump’s character. “Yeah, he’s kind of an idiot,” said Hoover.
Melissa, 55, and Samuel Young, 57, have lived in Glynn for 19 years. The nurse and truck driver both energetically cast their votes for Kamala Harris.
“I’ll be voting for her because women’s rights and the equal rights of women, that’s why I’m voting for my rights… nobody’s gonna take my rights,” said Mrs. Young.
Her husband had more salty language to describe the former president. “There’s no other way to put it: F++k Trump,” he said.
Melissa said Harris’s policies toward senior citizens and promises to shore up Social Security aligned with her own work as a nurse. “I love the seniors. I love the seniors. You understand I’m saying I work with seniors my whole entire life. And how are you going to come up there and tell them that they can’t have their money,” she said.
The husband and wife said they would be devastated if Harris doesn’t win. “There’s no other way to say it because he already shown you he don’t give a damn,” said Mrs. Young.
Steven Page a 67-year-old retiree, has lived in Glynn County for the past eight years after moving from Atlanta. Page said he voted for Trump in 2020 as well and border security is at the top of his mind while casting his vote.
“I’m voting for Trump,” he said. “I wouldn’t want him to date my daughter, because I don’t like the way he treats women. But essentially, the country is essentially a business, and he’s a fine businessman, and I don’t think Kamala Harris has got what it takes.”
— Jabari Gibbs
Liberty County
Horace Fleming was first in line at 6:30 a.m. at the Liberty County Community Complex. He voted for Kamala Harris. “Well, it’s time for a change. And as a woman, that’s one thing, and I think she’d be a great person to lead our country.” He came out to vote because “she seemed equal. For the people. That’s a good thing. Everybody should have a fair chance.”
— Robin Kemp
Christina Juniel brought her 13-year-old daughter with her to Pleasant Grove AME Church in Hinesville to vote for Kamala Harris. “I just agree with a lot of things that she’s wanting to do and saying, and I have daughters as well,” Juniel said. “I did read over the Project 2025 and I don’t agree with a lot of things that are in there for the sake that I do have teenage children that are growing into adults.” She added that reproductive freedom was the most urgent issue this election for her and other women she knows: “We should be able to make our own choices with our own bodies, for sure.”
— Robin Kemp
Wayne County
Ray Austin, a 59-year-old Desert Storm veteran, voted in Jesup Tuesday. He was reluctant to say outright who he voted for, but he made clear who didn’t get his vote: “I tell you this much, ain’t never gonna vote for Trump, telling the lies he tell. How can people let him stand there and tell that lie that he’s only 220 pounds?”
Austin also had more serious reasons. He did not believe Trump had the caliber of character to be in charge of the nation. “Him having his hand on the nuclear codes, okay? And then he’s talking about putting all his enemies in jail and all that type of stuff,” Austin said. “We went through 4 years of that stuff before. And it’s going to be worse this time, because – and he’s saying – everything he’s doing, he’s going to do.”
— Robin Kemp
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