New Bedford area voters head to the polls in Super Tuesday presidential primary election

NEW BEDFORD — The pace was slow at Ward 5's Buttonwood Park warming house polling place this morning, with only 56 voters having cast their ballots by 8:30 a.m.

Edward J. said the economy and the border were the most important issues to him.

He said he had no presidential preference. "I think both of these candidates have had their day in the sun."

One middle-aged man, who declined to give his name, said, "We need a new president." He said he was a Democrat, but couldn't endorse either candidate.

"I can't stand Trump, and I don't care for Biden. I don't think he's done anything for us."

Glitches at Ward 1 polling sites

There were some glitches reported at the Ward 1 polling sites in the morning, but they were corrected.

The New Bedford Board of Election Commissioners stated, “We can confirm that, at Vibra Hospital (Ward 1, Precinct D), Republican primary ballots were not delivered as they should have when polling equipment and materials were first delivered. Voting resumed when a supply of ballots was delivered from City Hall. "

According to the board, eight voters were affected. "They were encouraged to return and indicated they would attempt to do so by the end of the day. Shortly before polls closed Tuesday night, seven of the eight voters had returned to cast their ballots. The Board of Election Commissioners regrets any inconvenience and appreciates the effort of those voters who returned to participate in the election.”

The board also stated, “There was an electrical problem with one voting machine at CareOne (Ward 1, Precinct B). There was no disruption in voting as elections staff followed the standard protocol in which ballots continue to be received and placed in a secure tray. A replacement machine is then installed and any ballots received in the interim are fed into the new machine.”

What are voters saying at the polls in the Super Tuesday election

William Sylvia said he voted Republican. He said border control, the economy and safe communities were the most important issues in this election.

He added that he didn't envision the forthcoming campaign will change his mind on how he votes.

Tom Tavares is an independent but said he voted Republican.

He said the economy, immigration, and the war in Europe were the election's most important issues. Tavares said his mind was made up on how he'll vote in the regular election.

Tavares added he has children of conscription age. If they were subjected to the draft, he would change his mind on who would win his vote, he said.

Carol Nadeau said she voted Democrat, and didn't foresee anything changing her vote in November.

Primary Day in Massachusetts What's on the ballot? When polls open? Where to vote?

First time voting Republican in a primary

Wayne and Kristen Carvalho said for the first time they could remember they had voted Republican in a primary. They said they voted for Nikki Haley.

Kristen said the other choices were "an embarrassment."

Are voters concerned about Biden's age

Wayne said Biden had done well, but was concerned with his age, and whether "he's up with what's going on."

As for Trump, Wayne said he thought the Constitution had been designed to keep candidates like him from becoming president.

New Bedford City Councilor Joe Lopes said that people were concerned with taxes and the internal fighting going on at the federal level in this election.

'The border' an issue for some voters

A man in his 40s, who declined to give his name, said the issues were, "The border, the border, the border."

A woman in her 30s, who identified herself as Maria, said she voted Republican, and the border was the most important issue in the election.

A man in his 40s, who declined to give his name, said he was a Democrat but voted no preference. "I'm not happy with what's going on."

Paul Sylvia said he's a Democrat, but for the first time in his life he voted no preference. "I'm not satisfied with anyone who's running."

Sylvia said he had been in the service for 20 years. He said he was not happy with the state of the country right now, and "especially these two candidates."

Suzanne Houbre said she voted Republican. She said the border crisis and "definitely the economy" were the two most important issues. She said she didn't envision the coming campaign will change her vote.

Barbara Livingston said this election was "a choice about freedom." She said she's a social worker, and that was important because that's about being a part of the solution.

"I hope all the social workers get out and vote," she said.

Slow voting pace at Ward 4, Precinct C

The slow voting pace was even slower at Ward 4, Precinct C at the New Bedford Hotel Apts. at 725 Pleasant St. where just 63 voters had cast their ballots by 2 p.m.

A woman in her 60s, who declined to give her name, said she voted for Donald Trump. "He's the only one who can be the president we need and do the things we need done and keep the respect of the international community."

David Massi said he voted Republican, though he's an independent. He said, "Government is out of hand. They're trying to make us subjects. We're citizens. I want to return to normalcy."

Massi added government spending was constantly being increased for political advantage.

Concerned with local issues, including crime

David Lupo voted Democrat, he said. Local issues were uppermost in his mind, he said. Those included residency and reducing crime.

On residency, Lupo said it wasn't right that a person could live in New Bedford all their lives, and then be forced to move because a landlord had upped the rent.

James Nelson also voted Democrat. He said the fact that it was the presidential primary drew him to the polls Tuesday.

A man in his 60s, who declined to give his name, said he voted Republican "in the hope the country can overturn the woke tide underway."

Mike Lawrence said he voted because it was his civic duty. "I always make an effort to vote. Every citizen should."

Don't want to see Trump re-elected

Tala Tuvale said she voted Democrat. "I just really want to see Mr. Trump not be president again. That's very important to me."

Daphne Clement also voted Democrat. She said her friend was an independent and had voted for Nikki Haley. "I'm not an independent," she said. "I'm a Democrat, so I came out to vote Democrat."

Joel Anthony Costa said he voted Republican "for God and country. I love my country and I voted for Donald J. Trump."

This story will be updated throughout the day.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Super Tuesday presidential primary voters head to polls in New Bedford