At Alton polls, 'It's everyone's duty to vote'

ALTON — Voters who came to mark ballots at Prospect Mountain High School Tuesday morning carried a common sentiment: the future of the country could hinge on the current election season. That belief was true for people of both Republican and Democratic persuasions.

The ballots cast in the Sept. 10 Primary Election were to determine the nominees for governor, Congress and state representative of each party. When asked what was on their minds when at the polls, voters shared concerns that stretched beyond state borders.

When it came to local candidates, though, several voters said they didn’t feel as informed as they had been in previous elections.

“I didn’t really know many of the people on the ballot,” said Chrystal Moore, an undeclared voter who took a Democratic ballot on Tuesday.

Moore said she has voted in every election since she was 18 — “I think everyone should vote,” she said. She said she used her vote in the Primary Election to support bodily autonomy, and that meant voting for Joyce Craig for governor.

“I wanted to vote for people who were female or who stood for female rights,” Moore said.

Mary Uphold said her concerns were for “the country and where we’re headed.” Asked which direction she would like the country to go, she said, “[Donald] Trump, all the way,” and added she supported Kelly Ayotte for governor.

Uphold said she votes “all the time,” and has her thoughts on future generations when she does.

“We’ve got to think of our grandkids,” Uphold said. “They’re not going to have a life. Communism is not a place to live. ... I hope to God everyone opens their eyes to what’s going on.”

Zinovy Barch was also thinking about children — those suffering in his homeland of Ukraine — when he was voting. Barch said he voted to support candidates who had demonstrated consistency, not just in their messaging, but also in their actions.

“Sometimes politicians change their minds,” he observed. He had also seen how many American politicians speak about supporting Ukraine as it seeks to defend itself against a Russian invasion, but then those same politicians don’t provide the material aid that would back up their speeches.

“It’s part of the mess in Washington,” Barch said. “It doesn’t allow Ukraine to lose, but it doesn’t allow Ukraine to win,” and as such the war continues to rage, consuming innocent lives.

“The blood of Ukrainian women and children are on the hands of people in Washington.”

Pat Avin said she’s a lifelong voter. “Only once I didn’t vote, and it killed me. It’s everyone’s duty to vote,” she said.

Avin said she felt the country was “at a pivotal spot at this time. I hope everyone thinks about it and votes their conscience.” Asked to elaborate, she said, “I want us to stay a democracy, and I don’t see it happening if we go the other way. I’m tired of the division in the country. I think we need to pull together as Americans and do what’s right for each other.”

Avin said her vote for governor went to Cinde Warmington, who currently serves on the Executive Council. “I feel she’s more liberal than conservative,” and she has the experience to be an effective leader,” Avin said.

Robert Butler said he was “totally confused by the number of names on the down ballot,” and wasn’t able to vote in some of the races. He said he votes “religiously,” and abortion was the top issue for him.

“I voted for Kelly Ayotte for governor, and somebody by the name of Prescott for Congress,” Butler said.

Duane Hammond said he and his wife Sandy sometimes feel like muppets in Alton.

“I’ll quote Kermit the Frog. 'It’s not easy being green,' and it’s not easy being blue. This is a vibrant red area, we’re Democrats, and avoid political discussions with our Republican acquaintances for fear of starting World War III,” Duane said.

Sandy said her primary motivation as a voter was to “get rid of Trump,” and in the Primary Election that meant, “to have a good representation of candidates that could be voted in instead of Republicans.”

“Her goal is the same as mine,” Duane added. “Paramount is women’s rights, health care and all of that.”

Voter Sal Mazzola said he would be voting for Chuck Morse for governor, and he was going to make the rest of his decisions in the voting booth. He said issues at the top of his mind were “economy, the border, and to make sure that at the state, we’re doing the right thing.”