By Greg Forester, Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writers
It may have been low voltage in the Princeton area, but there was nevertheless a sense of electricity in the air on Tuesday as voters went to the polls to make their choices in an historic presidential election.
A random sampling by Packet reporters of various polling places on Tuesday revealed an electorate that nevertheless was primarily focused on the issues.
Nancy Lichtenstein, a Madison Avenue resident in Princeton Borough, and a supporter of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, voted at the Princeton United Methodist Church at around 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Asked if she was excited to vote in this election, she said, “Of course. The outcome is very important.”
Why? – Because “I want to see competent government.”
The current administration “doesn’t really care about the people,” she said.
Louis Deraville, a borough resident living near the University Medical Center at Princeton, said he was excited about this election because “I believe this a very historic election. If Obama goes in, I will be a very happy guy.”
His mother, Obama supporter Felicia Deraville, said, “This country is a mess” right now. “Whoever wins is going to have a big mess to clean up.”
Donald Hansen, superintendent of Princeton Township Public Works Department, was traveling around town Tuesday morning checking out the situation at various polling places.
”There’s been heavy turnout,” said Mr. Hanson, who was watching people stream into a polling place at Township Hall. “It’s been consistent.”
Although there weren’t any lines, people were constantly going in and out of the polling places, he said.
Janis McCarty, a Princeton Township resident living on Route 27, was at the municipal complex waiting for her husband and two small children to vote. She said she was excited about this election because it “is historic, because we have a person of color and a woman is the vice presidential nominee.”
She said she was supporting Sen. Obama, partially because of the conduct of the Iraq war.
”Personally, I am not in support of this war,” she said.
Karl Micka-Foos, a 22-year-old township resident of Griggs Drive, said he was less excited about this election than others.
”I’m usually a Democrat, but I am not voting for either (presidential) candidate because of personal reasons.”
At the West Windsor Township Municipal Building, home base for Voting District 5,Asma Zafar, who lives on Ludlow Court, said she voted for Sen. Obama.
She said she has seen a shift this election among her family and the community towards the Democratic Party.
”This is the first time I’ve voted Democrat,” Ms. Zafar said. Key issues for her were the economy, lower taxes and health care.
”For the last eight years, it’s been really disappointing,” Ms. Zafar said.
Ms. Zafar, who works for a bank, said mergers among financial institutions worry her.
Gabriel Wood, who lives on Kaitlyn Court, said he voted for Sen. Obama.
Mr. Wood, who has recently moved to the area from Kentucky, said he didn’t approve of the governance of the Republican Party.
”I’m tired of the way the Republicans are running the country,” he said. “I don’t like the direction we’re going.”
For Colleen Petit of York Road, the decision wasn’t simple.
”I wasn’t sold on any one candidate,” she said. “I want change and hopefully he can bring it, but who knows,” she said.
Ryan Callen of Kaitlyn Court said he would have voted for Republican Sen. John McCain, except for his vice presidential selection. “For me, it was Palin,” he said, citing the vice presidential candidate’s “general ignorance.” Sen. Obama got his vote instead, he said.
Joe En-Huei of Haskel Drive said he voted for Sen. Obama. The Republican Party makes bad decisions, he said, and has trouble coordinating to solve problems.
”Seems to me they don’t know who to clean up the mess,” he said. Though he voted more for the party than the candidate himself, Mr. En-Huei approved of Sen. Obama’s “guts” in opposing the war, he said. He also cited the war in Iraq and the handling of Hurricane Katrina as key issues in his decision.
”The Republican Party has just been too corrupt,” he said.
Jimmy Mohsin, of Taylor Court, said he voted for Obama as a vote “for change.”
He is looking for someone who “puts our country first,” he said. He said he wants to see the end of the “needless” Iraq war and companies shipping jobs overseas. He said he also wants a candidate interested in increased funding for science and technology. The future of the economy is a major concern, he added.
”Believe me, I’m really worried,” he said.
At the Montgomery Township Municipal Building, home to Voting District 9, Jay Mulford of Dead Tree Run Road, said her pro-choice stance and concerns about the health care system were key issues for her in this election.
She said she was “appalled” by Sen. McCain’s campaign and his vice presidential selection.
”It’s time to spread the wealth,” she said.
Montgomery resident Jeff Taylor said he voted for Libertarian candidates. The presidential nominee for the party was Bob Barr. He said he considered Sen. Obama an “idealist,” while he had trouble pinning down Sen. McCain’s stance on issues.
”With 300 million people in this country, we couldn’t find anyone better to run?” he asked. “It’s a lose-lose across the board.”
Sundeep Udeshi, who lives on Westminster Court, said he voted straight ticket for the Democrats. He was a first-time voter. The economy was his top concern in this election, he said.
With the size of the deficit, he said he voted for Sen. Obama so that less money is spent in Iraq, he said.
”I think he’ll curb the defense spending,” he said.

