Transcript
Sophia:
Most people are either sleeping or just waking up at 6 am. But here in Syracuse residents are at the polls voting. For them, the long-awaited election day is exciting enough to launch them out of bed.
Lauren Kalil
“I didn’t want to have the excuse not to. This is the first thing I’m doing in the morning. I haven’t even had my coffee yet and that’s normally the first thing that I do.”
Sophia:
Lauren Kail, a former reporter…used to cover election day. She feels it was hard to remain neutral when voters emotions were high. However, journalism gave her the ability to think critically. She says she’s a registered independent because she will not be put in a box.
Lauren Kalil:
“I can confidently say I haven’t voted for the same party in all the presidential elections that I’ve voted in. It comes with being proactive and educating yourself making sure you really see what each party stands for and don’t rely on one outlet.
Sophia:
Timothy Burns, another Syracuse voter, came to vote for one reason only
Timothy Burns
“I’m voting against trump more than any possible she saying…I trust her team to handle everything much better I can’t with any good conscious miss this election”
Sophia:
Burns is also voting for Harris because she’s passionate about abortion rights,
Timothy Burns:
Abortion is healthcare if a woman can’t get AD & c after abortion she may get a…and die. I don’t want that happening to my nieces, sisters, anyone in my family,,,anyone I know that’s horrible.
Sophia:
Although Burns and Kalil may have different views and reasonings for who they’re ir voting for they are more similar than one would assume.
Sophia:
As voters cast their ballot there’s one thing they all have in common a shared desire for a better community.
Lauren Kalil:
“It’s discouraging when people seem like they are very passionate about problems or issues..(put b-roll here)…but then they say I didn’t vote because I didn’t like either candidate…we’ve been saying that for quite some time now.
Timothy Burns:
Yes. If everyone did their part and voted we would have President Harris and wouldn’t have to worry about trump because he’d be going to jail any minute now.”
Sophia:
Not only does Kalil and Burns think everyone should vote…they also think it can help make the community whole.
Lauren Kalil:
I hope that regardless of who wins the election find unity as people and as a country and move forward and do our best … .At the end of the day everyone is doing their best..
Timothy Burns:
“I love being told every day how awful America is and then I step out my door and see how beautiful my community is.”
Sophia:
This is Sophia leone ncc news.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — While many people were still in bed, some Syracuse residents woke up early to cast their votes.
“I haven’t even had my coffee yet, and that’s normally the first thing I do,” said Lauren Kalil, a Syracuse voter and former reporter, who described the day as always being chaotic for her.
She noted it was often challenging to stay neutral amid voters’ heightened emotions in her former job. However, journalism taught her to think critically. She’s a registered independent because she doesn’t want to feel bound to vote along party lines.
“I can confidently say I haven’t voted for the same party in all the presidential elections I’ve participated in,” Kalil said. “Being proactive, educating yourself, and making sure you understand each party’s stance is crucial; you can’t rely on just one news outlet.”
Another Syracuse resident, Timothy Burns, arrived at the polls with a different purpose: to vote against Trump.
“I’m voting against Trump because I trust [Kamala Harris] to handle things much better than the lunatic,” he said. “I can’t, in good conscience, sit this one out.”
Burns also supports Harris for her stance on abortion rights.
“Abortion is healthcare,” said Burns. “If a woman can’t get a D&C after a miscarriage, she could…die. I don’t want that happening to my nieces, sisters, anyone in my family, or anyone else. It’s horrible.”
Although Burns and Kalil may express their political decisions differently, they’re more alike than one might think. As voters cast their ballots, one unifying factor remains: a shared desire for a better community.
“It’s discouraging when people are passionate about issues but then say, ‘I didn’t vote because I didn’t like either candidate,’” Kalil said. “We’ve been hearing that for a long time.”
Burns believes that if everyone voted, the race between Harris and Trump wouldn’t be as close. Both he and Kalil agree that voting is essential and that it can help bring the community together.
“I hope that regardless of who wins, we find unity as a people and as a country, so we can move forward and do our best,” Kalil said.
“I love being told how awful America is yet, when I step out my door, I see how beautiful my community is,” Burns added.
In a country often divided, Syracuse stands as a city where, despite political differences, a strong community spirit endures.