Bloomingdale Voters Exercise Their Right Tuesday

Whether they were voting for Democrats or Republicans Tuesday, tri-boro voters said they made the polls a priority because it is an American freedom.

"People died to have the right," Janice Meich, 64, a Bloomingdale resident and Bloomingdale Public Schools employee said.

Meich visited the polling location at the Samuel R. Donald School Tuesday night to vote. She said she felt empowered because so many have fought to be able to "give us the freedom to vote." She also voted because she felt it would help make a difference.

"If you don't vote, you can't really complain," she said.

Meich was not the only voter who said she visited the polls to exercise her right. Another voter had similar sentiments.

"There are men who fought for your freedom and it's important that we vote," she said.

On the Tri-Boro Patch Facebook page, Bloomingdale resident Thom Luinenburg described voting as a "privilege."

"This country was born out of a need for change from the tyranny of a dictator. Voting is a privilege and a right of citizenship," he said.

Another Bloomingdale voter at the Samuel R. Donald School Tuesday night, Robyn Smentkowski, 38, said she was voting so that she could "have a voice" as well.

"If you're not happy with your administration currently, you can vote," she said.

Smentkowski said she thought the change to include the board of education election with the general election was a good one. She was happy to make choices regarding the board of education Tuesday as well.

"It's good to have a say in what's going on with the board of education," she said.

On a local level, Dawn Hudson said she was voting to help make the changes she would like to see.

"Bloomingdale needs change and [to] move forward!" she said.

Why do you think it is important to vote? Tell us in the comments.

Read all Tri-Boro Patch election coverage here.