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Deerfield voters pack the polls
Denise Warady feeds her ballot into the machine Tuesday at the Patty Turner Center polling place in Deerfield. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 7, 2012 5:49PM
DEERFIELD — Bundled in sweaters and coats, toting umbrellas and rain bonnets, voters in Deerfield braved the weather to cast their votes Tuesday in what was projected to be a very close Presidential election.
Nancy Weiss, who said she has been voting for the past 77 years, said she just had to “go with her heart” on this election.
“I’m worried, I’m worried,” the Deerfield resident said at the Patty Turner Center polling place. “I think it’s going to be close. I don’t know which way is good, I just went with what I’ve been all my life.”
At Deerfield’s St. Gregory Episcopal Church, the number of voters held steady in and out of the doors. Deborah Rubens said the weather was “absolutely” not an issue for her.
“I just think this election is huge and I definitely was getting out here to vote,” Rubens said. “I think voting is important regardless, but this one more so than all of them.”
But not all voters were enthusiastic about casting votes. Instead, they were happy a long election season is nearly over.
Joe Karel, of Deerfield, said he was walking into the poll not knowing who to vote for.
“I’m glad it’s over with, but the problem is, you can vote today, but not going to know the effects of your voting for some time,” Karel said. “To me, it’s all kind of a roll of the dice right now.”
At Deerfield Village Hall, voters moved quicker through the parking lot to the door, as the chilly rain began to fall harder.
Laura Olander, of Deerfield, said there were some key issues that brought her out to vote.
“The economy, I feel strongly about abortion rights, and education,” Olander said. “I think it’s going to be close, but I think you should always vote, they are all important.”
Making her way through the cold while pushing her infant in a stroller, Jen Underwood said that voting is all about contributing to society.
“I always vote, I think it’s really important, and it’s important to be a part of your state community and part of the national community,” Underwood said. “I already knew who I wanted to vote for, (the mudslinging) didn’t sway my vote one way or the other.”
The political mudslinging between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney, however, weighed more heavily on others.
“I’m very, very glad that it’s over, because I think that the mudslinging has been incredible,” Schoeman said. “And I’m certainly glad that today, everybody can vote and this will be the end of it.”
The Patty Turner Center was much busier mid-afternoon than other polling places.
Darting through the weather was Deerfield resident Ross Fischoff, who said even though no particular issues stood out to him this election, he still felt it was important to cast his vote.
“I just want to make sure my opinion is counted,” Fischoff said.
