CHRISTIANSTED — Voters encountered long lines in St. Croix due to ballot machine issues that made eligible voters leave the long wait behind — and decide not to vote this election cycle.
“The machines were a little complicated,” Hortensia Encarnacion acknowledged. “Next time put a machine in every large supermarket and allow folks to practice on it before election day.”
But despite the long wait, many on all three major U.S. Virgin Islands decided to stick it out and cast a ballot for their candidate of choice.
“There are long lines at the (St. Croix Educational) Complex (High School) all waiting to vote,” educator-mentor Abdul Ali said. “The polls will close at 7 p.m. It is now 5:15 p.m. and there are over 300 persons in the line waiting for the big moment!”
Encarnacion suggested that the people who experienced long waits, waited too long to show up at the polls today. She said she voted at St. Dunstans School in Estate Orange Grove.
“I went this morning and it flowed like water,” she said. “Only six people in line.”
Edgar Bengoa, a 2018 lieutenant governor candidate, was a poll watcher at D.C. Canegata Ballpark for 2020 senatorial candidate Samuel Carrion.
“It’s not to late to cast your vote for your favorite candidate,” Bengoa said this morning. “Canegata is lit up. Go vote and then come join us!”
Veteran St. Croix former Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen also projected a strong presence of poll watchers at polling stations around the Big Island today.
Bengoa said he also voted at St. Dunstans School about 10 a.m. today.
“It took me about 20 minutes to vote,” he said. “I was a pole watcher at the D.C. Canegata Ballpark polling station. From about 4:45 p.m. they had a total of 649 people who voted. By 5:10 p.m. they were up to 689. When I left there, there was around 30 to 35 people in line and more cars driving in to vote. This has been the most people to vote in a non-gubernatorial race in years. The people must want a change or they are tired of being cooped up at home because of COVID-19.”
Two St. Croix voters who live near Marienhoj said they went to the polls in late morning and late afternoon, but encountered lines so long they left without voting this year.
