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Heading To The Polls In Waterbury's Municipal Elections

Ryan Caron King
/
WNPR
The polling place at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Christina Leary didn’t get to vote at Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut because she was at the wrong polling location. But she said otherwise, things seemed to be working well.

“It was a smooth process,” Leary said. “There weren’t many lines so people are moving in and out pretty quickly.”

This is designated as an “off year” with no statewide or federal positions up for grabs. But voter  Joe Carroza said to him, there’s never an off year.

“Politicians don’t take time off,” Carroza said.

As a citizen of Waterbury, Carroza said he wants to participate in how the city is run. He said he votes for the person he trusts the most.

“The character of the individual that’s running and how he comes across in his campaign as really sincere –a lot of it is personal impression that you get of these guys,” Carroza said.

Rachel Perez said that she hits the voting booth with Medicare on her mind.

“At my age, I’m after all of that,” Perez said.

She said she’ll vote until the day she dies.

“If you don’t vote then you don’t have any rights,” Perez said. “A lot of people complain ‘Oh I don’t have this [or that].’ Well, if you don’t even vote…”

Credit Ryan Caron King / WNPR
/
WNPR
"If I want something, I better get something, so that's why I have to vote. Those are my rights." - Rachel Perez of Waterbury, Connecticut

On the south end of downtown, car engines roared as they tried to make their way up and down the Waterbury hills. St. Francis Xavier church is on the corner of Baldwin Ave. and Washington Street.  

Jack Alseph was working outside—holding up a sign for a candidate. He said so far, he’s disappointed with turnout.

“I think it’s just apathy,” Alseph said. “Everybody is just sick and tired of politics—and figuring that they’re not going to gain anything by voting.”

Workers at the St. Francis Xavier polling place said that as of 11:30 a.m., only 37 people had come to vote.

Frankie Graziano is the host of The Wheelhouse, focusing on how local and national politics impact the people of Connecticut.

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