Boston residents reflected on the historic, months-long campaigns and national-scale issues that impacted their votes, as they cast their ballots in the 2024 Presidential Election on Tuesday.

This historic election could see the second-ever non-consecutive reelection of a president or the election of the United States’ first woman and South Asian president.

Excitement for the race has exploded over the last few months.

Former President Donald Trump became the victim of two presumed assassination attempts and was convicted on multiple felony charges. On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris joined the Democratic ticket late after President Joe Biden dropped from the race and received record-breaking grassroots fundraising and endorsements.

“This election felt like a lot of years consolidated into one moment,” said Gabriella Mora, 38, a family foundation worker who voted at the Fenway Community Center. “There were a lot of issues that felt really resonant and salient for me.”

John-Paul Hezel, a 44-year-old physician, said there are heightened tensions in this election.

“It was never this existential crisis if they won,” Hezel said. “It was bad when Bush won, but it wasn’t the end of the world.”

Reflecting on the campaigns

“We’ve had a steady flow of voters coming in,” said Lasonia Lang, an election official at the 105 Jersey St. polling location. “It’s been busy this morning, and we’re really grateful for the people that are really taking the time to vote.”

Voters reflected on how the candidates presented themselves and how it ultimately influenced their votes.

Linda White, who cast her ballot at a Boston Public Library in Copley, said she “didn’t support Kamala Harris in the primaries,” but chose to vote for her now because she does not “like the alternative.”

For Lea Morgan, 58, a former teacher who voted at the Honan-Allston branch of the Boston Public Library, neither presidential candidate was impressive. However, the addition of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to the Democratic ticket ultimately swayed her vote.

“He seems to be upbeat and ready to run through the fire for [Harris] and for the American people,” Morgan said.

Bruce Watson, who voted at 105 Jersey St. in Fenway, said he did not want to vote for a candidate who “complains about microphones,” referring to how Trump used a microphone to emulate a sexual act at a Milwaukee rally on Nov. 1.

“This, to me, isn’t an election of who could be the better president,” Watson said. “It’s more of who has a brain and who doesn’t.”

Yun Thwaits, who voted at the Boston Public Library in Honan-Allston, said Trump should “be more friendly toward women, toward immigrants and toward poor people” in order to garner their support.

Key issues for voters

This election is more about the preservation of democracy than candidates’ specific policies, said Jessica Mitten, a public defender in Boston.

Mitten said she values issues like “accountability, reproductive rights, voter access, healthcare” and “the Israel-Palestine conflict.”

Rebecca Fisk, who voted at a Boston Public Library branch in Back Bay, said this election cycle has been “anxiety-inducing” because of issues on the ballot that impact young people and women’s rights.

“It’s been difficult having a lot of tough conversations that I wish we weren’t having in 2024,” Fisk said.

As a survivor of sexual assault, Fisk said it is “incredibly important” to her that reproductive rights are protected, influencing her to vote for Harris.

Jonathan Lopez, a 24-year-old sales associate, said women’s reproductive rights and rights for LGBTQ+ people and people of color were most important towards his vote.

“The state of our democracy is at stake,” Lopez said.

Jared Simmons, 47, a creative producer and director, said he voted for Harris, because he doesn’t believe Trump “can be trusted with foreign conflicts anymore” after his first term.

Thwaits said “Trump has more experience” than Harris, as his four-year stint in the White House was spent as president rather than vice president.

Randy Bell, who works in immigration applications, said he wants to “curb illegal immigration” and tackle inflation to “bring the dollar up.”

“I remember paying around or even less than two bucks a gallon for gas, and now I cheer when I get $3.50,” Bell said. “[At] every corner you’re reminded, ‘Oh, wow. This used to be way better.’”

Voting in Massachusetts

Brian Prewitt, a 32-year old lawyer who voted for Trump at the Fenway Community Center, said he does not care about voting red in Massachusetts, a historically blue state.

“It gives you the freedom to vote for whatever you actually want in a way,” Prewitt said. “I don’t mind living around people who wouldn’t agree with me.”

Kevin Campos and Ron Muise, who both voted for Trump at 105 Jersey St., said they believe while Harris may win in Massachusetts, Trump will win the entire election.

Because Massachusetts “is going to go blue no matter what,” Fisk said she was “stuck debating” over voting with her “conscience” and voting “for what’s ultimately going to be right” for the U.S.

Looking ahead to results

Juan Cepeda, a 43-year-old pawn broker, said he “hope[s] the right person is going to be there in office to make things right.”

Because the race is so close, voters are wary of getting their hopes up and predicting a clear winner.

“Everything’s a coin flip nowadays,” Hezel said. “Nothing feels certain. We made that mistake years ago, when things felt certain.”

Reported by Karyna Cheung, Gabriel O’Hara Salini, Brie Foster, Emilia Wisniewski and Liam Dunne.