By hannover-web.com As early voting for the 2024 elections kicked off, a polling station in Flushing saw a notable turnout on the morning of October 26. Within just half a day, nearly 500 people had cast their votes, with a significant number of Chinese voters among them, many of whom were participating for the first time. Observers noted that most seemed to lean toward supporting Donald Trump, believing his policies aligned more closely with their expectations.
Polling staff reported a large gathering of voters at the Flushing early voting site by 8 AM, describing the atmosphere as “very busy, we haven’t stopped all morning.” By around 1:30 PM, approximately 450 individuals had already voted.
Yunqian Na, a translator at the polling station, shared that many Chinese voters were unfamiliar with the voting process, leading them to seek assistance. “Some would come in with their IDs and simply ask how to vote, and we guided them through each step,” she explained.
According to the staff on site, many voters were focused solely on casting their presidential votes, often asking “Which line is for the president?” After that, they seemed less concerned about the other selections on the ballot. Yunqian noted, “This always happens during presidential elections; people get so invested that the machines sometimes break down.” She speculated that the actual election day on November 5 would see even busier activity.
Many Chinese voters conveyed that this election is pivotal for the future direction of their community. An older couple shared that in previous elections, the husband typically voted for the Republicans while the wife chose Democrats. However, this time they both decided to vote for Trump.
The husband stated, “When choosing a president, it’s not about personal ethics; it’s about who plans for America’s long-term future.” He cited his reasons for voting for Trump as a response to increasing crime rates, saying, “Criminals are just released after being caught, there’s no accountability.” On the economic front, he viewed Trump as a businessman whose decisions tend to be more practical.
The wife, who had initially intended to vote for Kamala Harris on the eve of early voting, had a change of heart after receiving a phone call from a friend discussing new proposals for building homeless shelters. “I decided to switch my vote after that,” she admitted.
Another voter, Mr. Zhang, opted for the Democratic ticket as usual, stating, “The Republicans make it difficult for Chinese people to buy homes. What good times can we expect ahead under their leadership?”
Early voting will continue until November 3 (Sunday), with the nearest polling location to the Flushing Main Street subway station being the Boy’s Club located at 133-01 41st Avenue. November 5 (Tuesday) marks the official election day.
