Throughout Election Day 2024, The Land’s Community Journalists, and network of other writers, reported what they saw around Greater Cleveland. Their observations are below.
Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr. worked at Pilgrim Church in Tremont on Tuesday. He said staff had to open two overflow areas for voters to queue.
Erin McIntyre voted in Old Brooklyn. She said she arrived at 7:15 a.m. and left at 8:15 a.m. Voters who arrived even earlier — in the neighborhood of 6:30 a.m. — reported seeing even longer lines and wait times. “Neighbors were arriving ready to get in and get out – like past years. It was quite clear that this isn’t like past years,” McIntyre said. Photos from her polling location are below.
McIntyre then visited polling sites around Cleveland. Here are her observations.
Stonebrook-White Montessori in Glenville hit an afternoon lull. One of the poll workers said that a 1/3 of the precinct voted early. Collinwood Recreation Center on Lakeshore Blvd. was busy all day, poll workers said.
Octavia S. Hicks voted in North Collinwood. Here’s her experience: “Upon pulling into the parking lot of The Nottingham School, it was clear that turnout was high; the lot was full, with modest signage marking the entrance and a handful of people outside distributing materials. Although the line outside wasn’t too long, the crowd inside was significant due to one of the voting machines being down. This situation created two lines: one to pick up ballots and another, which wrapped around the room from the door, to submit them at the remaining machines.
After picking up their ballots, voters were directed to either wait in the center of the room for an open voting booth or fill out their ballots while standing in line to submit them in the working machines. With the broken machine and limited staff, the overall wait time was around 45 minutes to an hour. Despite the delays, it was great to see so many voters patiently waiting to cast their ballots. Although it was a bit crowded and confusing with the different lines, everyone seemed to be in good spirits. It was a reminder of how important it is for our voices to be heard.”
Photos from Octavia’s polling location are below.
Nikki Hudson voted at the Cudell Recreation Center on Tuesday. The parking lot was crowded during the lunch hour.
“Outside, I ran into a friend who was campaigning so I was already smiling as we walked into the building. There was only a short line to register but it looked like most of the 50 or so voting booths were filled. As I waited for my turn, one of the poll workers announced that there was another first time voter, and everyone clapped (including me),” Hudson said. “Today was one of the best times I’ve had voting. Everyone I encountered was friendly, efficient, and I was in and out in less than 15 minutes.”
Diane Millett voted in Collinwood. Here’s her experience: “We voted at St. John Lutheran Church this morning around 10:30 and there was only about a 5 minute wait, although the voting room was full and it seemed like a steady stream of people kept arriving.”
Cindy Hill went out at 7:15 a.m. and saw the Shaker Heights Community Building. She reported that the line to vote stretched all the way to Van Aken Boulevard. Scenes from the voting area are below, courtesy of Cindy.
In Cleveland Heights, lines at the Lee Road Library snaked around the building. Voters reported waits of up to 40 minutes. One of the site’s two ballot scanners was down. A photo from that location is below, courtesy of Hayley Brown.
Mike McGraw voted at the Cleveland Heights Community Center. “I voted at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, where several CH precincts now vote in the large gym. I arrived around 7:20 a.m. and immediately got in a line that stretched out the door and down the sidewalk nearly to Mayfield Rd. I got inside the building around 7:55 and fed my ballot into the scanner by 8:20. It seemed well staffed by competent staffers.”
Like many Ohioans, Maria Agosto-Vaughan voted by mail this year. She said it gave her an opportunity to collect her thoughts on issues and then make decisions.
Grant Segall spoke to Cuyahoga County residents as they voted early last weekend. See what they had to say about why this election matters in his article. Grant also spoke with voters at the polls on Tuesday.
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