Jean Dumont voted for the first time Tuesday after coworkers and family urged him to stop complaining about politics if he wasn’t going to vote.
“It makes me proud to be involved, I was really excited today,” said Dumont, 72, who voted with his brother-in-law at North Salem Elementary School. “I would always complain and never vote and now I can complain and say at least I voted.”
The voter turnout in Salem was average Tuesday morning, observed Dave Loesz, 75, of Salem, who was holding signs outside of the Ingram Senior Center advocating for Tanya Donnelly, a state representative running for reelection.
“I think the primaries are one of the most important elections to vote in,” Loesz said. “We are selecting the person who will be going on to the general election and it’s a key time to move forward that candidate.”
Beside him stood Tim Stewart, 57, of Salem, who agreed with Loesz but said that his Republican leanings are where the friends differ. Stewart said he hopes for a blue sweep in the November election, while Loesz is hoping for red.
Where most voters are focused on the big races for governor and congress, Mike Phillips, 67, of Salem, has his eyes on the state representatives.
“I feel that we have a really good selection and I don’t believe in rattling the cages,” he said. “The disabled community is important to me, and I want politicians that will support all disabilities.”
The results of the local primary will be available late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, and will set the tone for the presidential election.
“We have someone inexperienced who, for the last three-and-a-half years, said they were going to make changes, and didn’t, and on the other hand, we have someone who doesn’t have a bedside manner,” he said.
Still, Phillips said he thinks, and hopes, it’ll be Trump.
By 11 a.m., more than 1,400 Derry residents had voted at Pinkerton Academy — a far larger turnout than most other New Hampshire locations. Being the only polling location in Derry, residents of all ages, genders and ethnicities funneled into the gymnasium, barricaded on either side by eager sign holders and candidates.
“It’s important to vote in the primaries if we want the state to do what we think is the right thing,” said William Cheyne, 74, of Derry. “We have to come out and vote for people to represent us.”
Cheyne, who worked out of town, didn’t vote much in local elections until he retired, he said. Of the turnout, he said it was “respectable” and should pick up in the afternoon when people are returning home from work.
Though he has his eyes on the governor’s race, which he says will set the tone for state politics, he’s also interested in the congressional districts and hopes candidates who are “looking toward the middle” will be elected.
“I wish we had a better choice for president,” he said of the November election. “I’d like to vote for someone I want, not vote against someone I don’t want.”
To see live election results, visit eagletribune.com for online updates tonight. Look for a print edition of available results Thursday, along with continuing updates on our website.