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Early Voting Attracts Hundreds At L.A. County Clerk Headquarters

Shako Liu |
November 3, 2012 | 4:41 p.m. PDT

Senior Staff Reporter

Voters cast their ballots early. (Photo by Shako Liu)
Voters cast their ballots early. (Photo by Shako Liu)
Early voting continued Saturday at the Los Angeles County Clerk Headquarters, attracting hundreds of voters.

It was Cynthia Rivera’s first time voting. The 37-year-old has just become a U.S. citizen, and she said it was great to vote for the president for the first time.

She said she had some questions when casting her ballot, such as some confusion caused by there being no specific page numbers.

She voted for Barack Obama because she said she embraces the health care law overhaul known as Obamacare.

Kim Kelly, 32, said she was anxious to vote and wanted to get it done early. Her vote went to Obama too, because as a homosexual woman, she said appreciates Obama’s advocacy for women’s and gay rights.

“Romney is a total asshole,” Kelly said. “He has no respect for women.”

Another Obama supporter is Gerry Miranda, 47. He said he has to work next Tuesday, so he voted Saturday instead. He said he was better off than four years ago due to Obama’s policies. Four years ago, he was unemployed. He now works at a power company. He said Obama’s policy of pushing federal funds toward wind and solar power projects has brought great opportunities to his company. Such emphasis on green energy wasn’t in place four years ago, Miranda said.

A lot of voters cast their ballots early in order to avoid the crowds Tuesday. Others will have work or be out of town. Many who voted for Obama said they think he is a better candidate whose interests are in line with the American people while Romney has been flip-flopping his positions and stands behind the interest of big corporations.

Jamie Taferner, 31, however, supports Romney. She said she voted early because she just moved to L.A. from Orange County, and won’t have time next Tuesday. She said she voted for Romney because she is conservative. Taferner also wants a new president in the White House, since she is worse off than four years ago, she continued.

“Obama didn’t do what he said,” Taferner said. “Hopefully Republicans will bring enough votes to make a change.”

 

Reach Shako Liu here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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