They arrived by bike, on foot, and by car to cast their ballots. Children who came with their parents received small “Future Voter” stickers. On November 5th, 2024, Grace United Methodist Church in Roland Park was a polling place bustling with voters. 

The 2024 presidential election has had a huge impact on Americans’ lives, and many people coming to vote on Tuesday had strong feelings toward the two candidates. For many, this election was a vote on the values that will shape the future of our country.

“We don’t want to live through another dictatorship,” said Romergryko Geocadin, who was voting with his wife Efigenia Geli-Geocadin. The couple are parents of Friends Alums Giann ’15 and Sofia ’19 Geocadin.

The Filipino-American pair stressed how important this year’s election is – both to the nation, and to their family. 

“We lived during a time of dictatorship in the Philippines, so the democratic process is important to us,” said Dr. Geocadin. “It’s a very important election.”

The Geocadins are not  the only voters who feel the weight of the election. Across the nation, citizens are grappling with the stakes of one of the closest presidential races in recent history.

Election volunteer Rosemary Connoly is one of them.

“I already early voted. Democracy is at stake,” she said, waiting in the doorway to greet voters, and direct them upstairs to the church hall to cast their ballots. Connoly said she chose to help at the polls because “older people were growing afraid, and it is time for my generation to take over.” 

Midmorning, Connolly said the poll process had been going well at Grace since early that day.

“It was a very smooth process this morning. I was surprised by the security measures; they check the ballots every hour,” she says. “It’s very redundant and safe.”

Hundreds of cars filled two large parking lots. Some voters could not find a spot, and were forced to park on neighboring streets.

Nearly 300 people had voted by 9 am, a diverse group across all metrics. Seven were even first-time voters, for whom the room erupted in cheers. Raisheen C., a middle-aged African-American woman, said the high stakes of this election were the reason she registered.

“It’s my first time voting, so I’m very enthused. I’m very excited to vote for Kamala,” she said.

Fellow first-time voter Alex J., a young white man, said he voted “by sticking to what I believe in and making a choice from there.” Despite a “technical difficulty” he was able to cast his ballot.

Many voters came to the polling place alone. Others came with friends or family. Maggie Cummins, a teacher at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, brought her young daughters along to drop off her mail-in ballot. Turning to them, she and asked why it’s important to vote.

“To have a say,” they said. Their mom elaborated. 

“It’s really important to vote, because if you don’t have a say in what’s happening, then life just happens to you,” said Cummins. 

Voter Bob Fiore also feels the weight of this election – but for opposite reasons. He said he cast his vote for Donald Trump because he believes the former President will better address the economy, immigration, and crime.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Fiore says, was “contrived by the media,” transforming suddenly from a disliked VP into a relevant, supported figure. Fiore said Harris is “unqualified” for the job, especially in matters of foreign affairs.

“She adopts different personalities in different communities,” he said.

Fiore said the local issues that matter to him most are crime rates and quality of public education. He supports Trump’s idea to abolish the Department of Education, and says it should be up to states to decide what to teach their kids. He says he is also against teachers unions because they aren’t improving kids’ education. 

At the same time, Fiore is pro-choice. He said he agrees with the Supreme Court’s decision to abolish Roe v. Wade, because it should be up to states to decide whether they allow abortion. 

Blue and green signs supporting Harris, Walz, and Angela Alsobrooks lined the driveway. There were no Trump signs, but there were signs for both Yes and No on Question F, the proposal to redevelop Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

As people inside made their voices heard through their ballots, activists outside the polling place did so by advocating for their causes. They waited along the driveway to the church to talk to voters. 

Activist Ty M. was there to voice his opposition to Question H, a proposal to shrink the number of members on Baltimore’s City Council from 14 to 8. Voters “shouldn’t cut it in half,” he said, “because it is cutting down the number of people with power.”

Ganay, a lobbyist for Question H, disagreed. She works for the Council, and said a bigger council would cause more problems, because they’d have to cover more ground with fewer resources. 

“There would be less outreach,” she said. 

An activist for the redevelopment of Harborplace declined to give her name. But she freely gave her opinion that “everybody against Question F is fine with rats and vagrants living there.” 

Another activist at the polls was former Baltimore City District Court judge Katie O’Malley, who now works for the Women’s Law Center, a nonprofit that provides legal services to victims of partner violence. The Center also helps with divorce advocacy, reproductive health care, and gender discrimination. 

O’Malley, who is also the wife of former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, was trying to convince people to vote yes for Question 1, to protect abortion rights.

“Maryland has laws protecting abortion, but they could be repealed,” she said. O’Malley said she voted early for Kamala Harris.

“We have a bright future if we elect Harris,” she said.

She also said Trump aspires to be a dictator. His previous term as president did nothing to make her hopeful. 

“He wasn’t adequate in dealing with the pandemic,” O’Malley said, recalling when he told Americans to drink bleach. “He is responsible for thousands of people dying.” 

“Gotta hope that people come out for Kamala,” she said.

Voter Charles George said he shares the hope that lots of people will vote. He noted that there’s usually a long line, but on Tuesday it was “quick and easy.”

“If you don’t vote,” he said, “You’re neglecting your civic duty and not taking part in the democratic process.” 

Another voter, Caroline Spangler, said that is her best advice to young people. On her way in to vote, she shared that it is important to be well-informed, because you’re making a choice. 

“Pay attention,” she said. And vote.

“It affects young people more than old,” she said, “And it’s the only real way to make change.”