Importance of election sends first-time voters to polls

First-time voters were hard to find in Boulder City on Election Day, but a smidgen of the new electorate was ready and willing to cast a vote for President-elect Donald Trump.

A small group of local first-time voters who were willing to speak publicly were in overwhelming support of Trump and to them the presidency was the only vote on the ballot that motivated them to go to the polls.

Coral Leon, 20, basked in the joy of voting in her first election and was more than willing to show her support for Trump.

“I don’t trust (Hillary) Clinton at all so a vote for Trump was easy.”

Leon said she watched and listened to a number of news stations on television and radio, including ones that she does not agree with.

“I made sure I got information from all the news stations,” Leon said. “I didn’t agree with a lot of them but I wanted to make sure that I heard every opinion out there.”

Jake Wilson also proudly supported Trump.

“Voting today was an opportunity to fix a corrupt system in Washington,” Wilson said. “A vote for a Clinton is a vote for politics as usual so I voted for Trump.”

First-time voter Dan, who did not wish to use his last name, said he voted for Trump but he did not like him.

“I don’t like Trump because he is kind of a rat,” Dan said. “But I just don’t trust Clinton.”

All three first-time voters said that the process was easy and approachable.

“Everyone was really helpful and was there to answer any questions I had,” Leon said. “I really enjoyed the whole experience and I can’t wait to vote again.”

Dan said he was in and out of the voting booth quick because polling place volunteers were so helpful.

“All the volunteers told me what I needed to do and I was able to vote right away.”

Wilson said it was great to vote for the first time with his family.

“The experience of voting was awesome,” Wilson said. “I got to have my voice heard and I did it with my family.”

No numbers on first-time voters turnout could be found on the Nevada Secretary of State website.

Contact reporter Max Lancaster at mlancaster@bouldercityreview.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLancasterBCR.