Manatee Democrats and Republicans agree: Elections must go on despite the coronavirus
Voters on Tuesday held a wide variety of political beliefs as they cast their ballots across Manatee County, but they all had one thing in common: they agreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to hold elections as scheduled.
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and at the last minute Ohio, all postponed their presidential primaries while Florida, Arizona and Illinois continued with the election.
Despite concerns about social distancing due to the coronavirus, voters of all ages began a slow, but steady stream at polling locations across the county from the time polls opened at 7 a.m. Polls are set to close at 7 p.m.
“My husband mailed in his ballot, but I want to make sure my ballot gets in the box,” said Joan Mantel, who cast her vote for Joe Biden in Democratic presidential primary at the Kirby Stewart American Legion Post No. 24 in Bradenton.
“It’s kind of a Catch-22 because I’m at that age where I’m not supposed to be here, but I’m here with own (sanitizing) wipe,” Mantel said. “If anyone is committed to voting for big change, then they need to be voting.”
Mantel said she would have preferred one of the previous women presidential candidates as an option, but Biden has pledged to pick a woman as his vice presidential running mate, so Biden is getting is her vote.
There were plenty of President Donald Trump supporters out for the primaries, as well. Also agreeing with the decision to hold the elections were three Trump supporters at the Family of God Methodist Church in Palmetto. The trio, who drove in togethe,r said they supported the president for, “doing a great job and he’s a tough guy.”
Others, who declined to offer their names agreed, expressing their support for the president and for the governor’s decision.
“It’s extremely important that democracy doesn’t stop,” one voter said.
Bernie Sanders supporters agreed, as well, that the governor made the right decision.
“It’s fine,” Robin Seiger said, noting that as a nurse for 44 years she supports universal healthcare for all and therefore has always supported Sanders. “I’ve seen many people adversely affected and it’s time for health care for all.”
A couple who came to the American Legion to vote, split their votes between Sanders and Trump. Declining to be identified, the Trump supporter said he would have voted for Sanders if Florida’s primaries were open, noting that if Sanders were to win the nomination, he would vote for him. However, if Biden wins the nomination, he’ll continue to support Trump.
Both agreed that voting on Tuesday as scheduled was important.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” said the Sanders supporter, noting why she supported the long-time senator for president. “Sanders is for the people and I want somebody who will represent me.”
Voters across the board also either supported or had no problem with the government’s recent decisions in laying out new guidelines in social distancing.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily an overreaction,” one Sanders voter said. “I think people who have been hoarding groceries is a much bigger overreaction.”
And a Trump voter agreed.
“It’s a tough time,” she said. “I think they are doing their best with what we know about this virus.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 9:32 AM with the headline "Manatee Democrats and Republicans agree: Elections must go on despite the coronavirus."