South Bethlehem is experiencing record voter turnout today, with an average 5-and-a-half-hour wait in line at Banana Factory at 8 p.m. At 8:25 p.m., there were nearly 250 voters remaining in line.
The last voter, John Rizzo, ’27, stepped into the booth to cast his ballot at 9:31 p.m.
Students and local residents lined up around the building and down West Second Street in hopes of casting their ballot. Poll volunteers are reminding people that anyone in line before 8 p.m. legally has the right to cast their ballot.
Inside the Banana Factory at 5 p.m., there were eight poll workers and four functioning voting machines, volunteer Rebecca Cohen, ’25, said. The morning started with a faulty machine and only two people checking people in, she said, until more workers and two additional machines arrived.
A poll worker said a fifth voting machine was brought in at 6 p.m., and a sixth at 8 p.m.
Jonathan Groff, a famous actor and singer, arrived at the Banana Factory at 6 p.m. to encourage voters to stay in line. Lehigh College Democrats Coordinator, Madison DeAngelis, ’25, said Groff was asked to come to Banana Factory by the Harris-Walz campaign, staying until he greeted every single person in line.
Actor Jonathan Groff poses in a photo at the Banana Factory during Election Day voting on Nov. 5. Groff greeted voters in an hours-long line during the late evening hours. (Rachel Gruber/B&W Staff)
DeAngelis said the campaign also asked celebrities Wanda Sykes and Marissa Tomei to come to the polls, and singer Demi Lovato Facetime called voters, encouraging them to stay in line. She said despite rumors, Paul Rudd didn’t make it to the Banana Factory.
“I was canvassing for Kamala, and I got a call about how long this line was,” Groff said. “I was asked if I would come and thank everyone staying and voting.”
Thomas Carroll, the chairman of the Bethlehem Republican City Committee, is at Banana Factory to “make sure the election is fair.” He said he knows the Banana Factory ward doesn’t have as many registered voters as showed up to the polls.
“We do know that bus loads of people, they advertised it, that busloads of people have come in from New York and New Jersey,” Carroll said. “We never expected the fraud to happen this quickly and this fast in this place.”
Kaitlyn Powel, ’25, and Genevieve Powell, ’25, began volunteering at the polls at 10 a.m. and said they haven’t seen any busses arrive throughout the day. They also said there hasn’t been a record of unregistered voters in Pennsylvania.
At around 5 p.m., an ambulance was called to Banana Factory after a voter, Julia Grumet, ’28, lost consciousness. She said she has a chronic condition, POTS, that makes her “pass out on occasion” and that the long line wasn’t “100% to blame” for the incident.
Community Service Office volunteers are handing out snacks, water and food, encouraging people to stay in line as 101.7 FM blasts music from a station car to keep voters engaged. Pizzas were provided by Lehigh Auxiliary and Dining Services.
Water is handed out to Election Day voters waiting in line at the Banana Factory on Nov. 5. The line peaked at over five hours in length during the day. (Julia Contino/B&W Staff)
A community member who requested anonymity is a registered Independent and has been a Bethlehem resident for 32 years. They said they’re voting for a “straight blue ticket.”
They formerly served in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, and they’re in strong disagreement with presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“As someone who sworn to the Constitution, Trump is a direct threat to the Constitution, and a clear and present danger to this country,” the community member said.
Kiyomi White, ’27, said she didn’t know she was able to vote until this morning because her name was misspelled on her registration form and was on line waiting beginning at 11:30 a.m.
“I felt it was very important (to show up), and I thought the wait was only going to be two hours,” White said. “And I guess after two hours, I might as well just stay since I get the day off for the purpose of voting, so ‘Why not?”
Natalie Gould, the communication director for Susan Wild, said her day began at 5 a.m., and that Wild’s team was expecting unprecedented voter turnout and it was great to see a lot of young voters.
“I have so much sympathy and empathy, and I’m so impressed by these kids who are in college and are willing to stand in line for hours and hours and hours,” Gould said. “As hot as it is, as tired as we are and as tired as we’ve been all campaign season, it’s very encouraging to see all these young people be very, very motivated.”
David Lee Smith, an Allentown resident, was working a glass-blowing shift at the glass studio at Banana Factory and said he’s been astonished at the line.
Smith offered Gould cash to help contribute toward the cost of water and snacks.
“I was really thrilled to see the volunteers handing out water and food to keep people in line, especially college students,” Smith said. “I don’t want them standing out here starving for two hours because the county can’t get its act together.”
The Brown and White will be updating this story as it develops.
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