Election 2024: Live updates from Pennsylvania, Philly, New Jersey, Delaware

A line of about two dozen voters already formed outside George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia before polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

It was a politically, racially and ethnically diverse voter line near the corner of Bustleton Avenue and Red Lion Road.

Within the first hour, about 150 people were in and out of the polling station, which houses several of the county's departments.

Philadelphia voter Patrick Corey, an older adult, said he worries about the future of America.

“I'm worried about a possible third world war. I have a grandson in college and I really don’t want him to go to war,” Corey said. “That would be number 1 for me. The other problem is the border. The bottom line is that we must have a secure border. The other candidate had four years to do something. She did absolutely nothing. It’s time for a change.”

____

David Cruz is a small business owner and the child of an immigrant who came to the United States decades ago. Cruz described himself as an independent voter who selects specific candidates each election cycle.

The 49-year-old said his three biggest concerns were the economy, particularly inflation and the cost of doing business, as well as taxes and immigration.

“I have been worried about the country's development, economic development and high taxes for four years,” Cruz said. “The open border is very worrying for an immigrant because immigration laws are not being applied.” As someone who has come here and followed the process, I see the path the current administration is taking as worrying for the next four years to. My problem is not that immigrants came to this country illegally. My problem is that there is no plan to prevent this. I worry that my children won’t have the same experience as me (with a good life).”

The economy was difficult for Cruz, and he saw his own workers struggling to make ends meet.

“My biggest problem is the economy. It hurt my bottom line, it hurt my family. We cannot continue in this environment,” he said. “Inflation has cost me more than $60,000 in the last two years, which I did not expect, and that is unbearable. My fuel costs have almost doubled in the last two years. My employees are having problems. I have to increase their wages so that they can make a living.”

____

Barri Goldstein said her two biggest concerns are the economy and women's right to an abortion if they need one.

“A woman has the right to decide what she does with her own body and life,” Goldstein said.

She said her neighbors who still drive complain about high gas prices and inflation at the store. She's old enough to get a free SEPTA pass and has given up driving around town.

The cost of living “continues to rise, the price will never go down, I don’t think. Unless there’s a sale.”

____

“Our Social Security and Medicare should not be touched by an idiot,” said Fidel Rodriguez. “Keep it as it is now, don’t change it. Don't give the millionaires as much money as they want. The middle class is the one that should be taken care of. The ones who worked and spent all that time paying for it.”

Carol Rodriguez, Fidel's wife, said women's rights were her top issue.

“No one. Not the government, but every man should tell a woman what to do with her body. That is a woman's right. She should know and do what feels right with her body. That's it, period,” Rodriguez said.

Lynette Willis, a voter from Northeast Philadelphia, said taking care of seniors and women's rights is most important to her. She has already had her children, but she worries that the next generation of women will not be able to decide for themselves when and whether they will become mothers. to.

“Seniors, they were here before us. We have to think about them,” Willis said. “As far as women are concerned, we have control over that. No one else. If someone gets raped, it's a big deal. You will make sure they have the child of someone who hurt them. It's not right. We all want someone who is there for everyone. Not for a party. It's not about gender, race or anything like that. We have to stick together.”