VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: LeMoyne College Polling Center Draws Voters on Election Day
Maria Wainscott: Election Day poll workers at the Panasci Family Chapel polling center at LeMoyne College were busy setting up early this morning. A steady stream of voters arrived within the first hour of polls opening. The atmosphere was one of anticipation. Esther Zorin, a Syracuse resident of 40 years and Newhouse graduate, volunteered at the polls for the first time. Esther believes voting is more than a right—it’s a responsibility. She encourages anyone on the fence to think about the impact they can make on our country’s future.
Esther Zorin: “If you’re thinking maybe you’re not going to vote today, think twice.”
Wainscott: And for some, casting a ballot today holds an even deeper meaning. One of the first voters to arrive at the polling station, Marva Reddock, shared that, as a refugee from Jamaica, voting symbolizes freedom and everything her family has achieved. For her, it’s a reminder of how great this country can be.
Marva Reddock: “Oh, my God, I’m a refugee, so that’s what they’re saying. But, and I became citizen, and it’s a great feeling. It’s, it’s, this is America. We have the right to vote, and we have the to speak and it it’s just a great feeling. It’s just amazing.”
Wainscott: In Onondaga County, about one-third of registered voters have already made their voices heard, either by mail or in person. Polls are open across New York today until 9 p.m., with strong turnout expected after about 3 million early votes were cast statewide. For Democracy in Action from LeMoyne College, Maria Wainscott, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Election Day brought a steady stream of voters to the Panasci Family Chapel polling center at LeMoyne College. Poll workers were busy early this morning setting up as community members arrived to cast their ballots.
Among those assisting at the polling station was Esther Zorin, a Syracuse resident of 40 years and a 1975 Syracuse University Newhouse School graduate, volunteering for the first time. Zorin emphasized the responsibility that comes with voting.
“If you’re thinking maybe you’re not going to vote today, think twice,” she said, adding that participating in every election is an essential part of democracy.
For some voters, the day carried an even deeper significance. Marva Reddock, one of the first voters to arrive at the polling station, shared that voting, as a refugee from Jamaica, symbolizes freedom and accomplishment for her and her family.
“This is America,” Reddock said, her voice breaking. “We have the right to vote, and we have the right to speak and it’s just a great feeling. It’s just amazing.”
About one-third of Onondaga County’s registered voters had already cast ballots by mail or early voting.