Most experienced a smooth and easy voting process in Cape May County this Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Winding lines that made headlines elsewhere in the state and in nearby Pennsylvania were nowhere to be seen at the nine polling locations in Cape May County that the Herald visited.
At each, voters were able to walk right in the door, there was parking readily available and there were no signs of any inappropriate campaigning or other obvious red flags regarding the integrity of the process. Some locations did show a bit of a late hit, with some uptick in traffic after business hours. Polls close at 8 p.m. across the state.
With many taking advantage of early voting, it is difficult to gauge the overall turnout in the county based on what could be seen at the polls Tuesday. But for those who wanted to cast their vote the old-fashioned way, the process was quick and efficient.
The unseasonably warm temperatures also uplifted individuals’ spirits and helped some local businesses with more people than usual out and about. On Cape May’s Washington Street Mall, just a half-block from a polling location in the Parish Hall behind Our Lady of the Sea Catholic Church, one bench was occupied by two strangers, using the time afforded to them by not having to wait in line to take in the high-60s temperatures.
They chatted back and forth, parroting different talking points from the two campaigns, arguing back and forth even though matching “I Voted” stickers indicated it was too late for any further persuasion.
Still, the temperature of the conversation rose as they rattled through the different topics, and for a second, one could almost sense some tension building. But then it was suddenly cut with a knife.
They found something they could agree on.
“At least we won’t be getting any more of those text messages,” one of the two men said.
Trump Merchandise Store
The Trump merchandise store, on Main Street in Court House, was open for business Tuesday, ready to sell hats, T-shirts, magnets, flags, and a book titled, “Fact or Fake News,” by Brian McDowell, the store’s owner.
McDowell’s claim to fame was being on The Apprentice in 2005. The appearance inspired McDowell to head up the Trump campaign in Cape May County in 2016 and he has been a Trump supporter ever since.
Gary Weyhmiller, who was working McDowell’s Trump merchandise store, said some people had come in looking for last minute items to wear to election night gatherings.
“We were busy today, but not overly,” Weyhmiller said at around 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Otherwise, he said business has been steady considering there were three locations for merchandise. He said he would generally ask people when they stopped in where they came from, and there were many from the local area or visitors from out of town.
More information will be added as it becomes available. We will have coverage throughout the night as results come in and those impacted react.
