Voters at Bethlehem City Hall spoke to The Brown and White on Tuesday about issues that are important to them, the importance of voting and their voting experience.
Q: Are there any specific issues in this election that are important to you?
Mike Gibbons: Yeah, there’s a lot, the Iran War is a big one, cost of living. It’s corruption, the government. The list goes on, but those are the three most important ones.
Affordability is the biggest thing because that’s the thing that affects my life every day. Corruption would be my 2nd biggest issue because it comes with affordability, but it also comes with the future of what we’re gonna be doing in this country.
Newton Nagirimadugu: Unfortunately, not really.
Mary Steele: Affordability. And I always vote. I have never not voted. Primary, general, presidential, I have always voted because I have to honor the ancestors who died for me to have the right to.
Yen DeBellis: I think there’s a lot. Right now, the climate of everything that’s going on, I think everyone should be using their vote to do that.I think everything with just human rights in general, I think we need to take a stand.
Alexis Calderon: I’ve seen a lot of things in the political sphere that I don’t agree with, and I want some change, for sure.
Colleen Finelli: In general, you know I’ve pretty much been (a) Democrat all my life. I’m opposed to what the other side is doing right now, the different economic problems, the war happening and just nonsensical stuff that keeps happening.
Q: Is there a specific candidate or campaign that resonates with you or motivated you to vote?
Mike Gibbons: Well, it’s more of my vote is against the current administration. There’s not anybody that inspired me to vote other than the people who’re in charge (that) inspired me to vote against them.
Mary Steele: In Pennsylvania? No. I’m really feeling Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan and Angie Nixon from Jacksonville, Florida. I can’t remember Blanche’s name, but she’s running for two different positions. Unfortunately, I can’t vote for her.
Yen DeBellis: No, not really.
Alexis Calderon: So, I’ve been liking what I’ve been seeing from Abdul. I like that he seems intelligent. He seems knowledgeable, multiple topics and he speaks well publicly.
Colleen Finelli: I guess there’s nobody in particular that I would say.
Q: Do you feel your vote matters, and why is voting important?
Newton Nagirimadugu: I do, yeah. I feel like especially for Congress it’s a swing.
Mary Steele: I think it’s important because it’s a right. If people think politics don’t affect your everyday life, they are sadly mistaken.
Alexis Calderon: Yes, I feel that every vote matters. I believe that believing you’re just a number will lead to bad things. I believe everyone should vote.
Colleen Finelli: It feels good. I had my ballot that I could have dropped it in a box, but I like to go do it in person, if I can but if it worked out I was going to be away and wasn’t going to be able to make it, I always like to have the opportunity, so I like to get the mail in ballot and all I have to do is bring it in with me, so I can do in-person voting if I decide that way.
Q: What do you hope comes out of this election or for the future of the country?
Mary Steele: We have to get things under control because things are not affordable.
Yen DeBellis: I think good communication, listening to each other, advocating for each other. It’s advocating more for each other and human rights in general.
Alexis Calderon: I’m really hoping for a change of the tide. I don’t like the route we’re going on as a country.
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