Tuesday’s presidential election drew a large number of voters to the polls, including many who were casting a ballot for the first time.

Lexi Merkel of Palmerton, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, said it was a wonderful feeling to take part in the process.

“It was definitely interesting,” Merkel said of her first voting experience. “A lot of people came out to vote. I think this election may go down as one of the most important in history so to take part in it, to vote, it feels great.”

Young people are usually a demographic that sees a low voter turnout, but the interest in the 2020 race is expected to reverse that trend.

A national poll of America’s 18- to 29-year-olds released last week by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School found historic interest in the upcoming election, with a higher proportion of respondents indicating they will “definitely be voting” than has been observed in the 20 years the poll has been conducted.

The poll showed that 48% of that demographic voted in 2016, compared to the 63% of respondents who “definitely” intended to vote in 2020.

“I think it’s really important to vote,” Merkel said. “A lot of people like to bash politicians and call them all liars. But everyone has a right to vote and to have their voices heard.

A freshman political economy major at Bloomsburg University, Merkel didn’t just cast her first vote Tuesday, she got out to the Palmerton Ambulance building along Delaware Avenue early to help push for her candidate of choice. Over this campaign season, she has been at Lehigh Valley rallies for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Merkel has also worked for the Carbon County GOP.

“It’s been neat helping motivate people to vote,” she said. “I’m hoping my future is in politics in some way so this has been a great start for me to get out and get involved in this way. I’ve done a lot of work with state Rep. Doyle Heffley and continue to learn a lot from him. All of the experiences will help me in the future.”

First-timers cast votes throughout the region.

In Ross Township, Monroe County, first-timers Jason and Stacie Lane and Karen and Randy Dugey of Saylorsburg waited in long lines to cast their vote. Randy Dugey said, “We need to take back the country, so we are voting Trump all the way.”

Wait times vary

How long someone waited to vote at many polling sites around the area was likely dependent on when they visited.

“It’s pretty dead right now,” Merkel said at noon outside the Palmerton Ambulance building. “I got here this morning at 7 a.m. though and the line was down to Campton Funeral Home. The middle of the day is quiet but I think the turnout will pick up again tonight when a lot of people get off work.”

The 300th voter hit the polls around 12:45 p.m. at the Palmerton Rod and Gun Club after the morning opened with about 50 people in line.

In Slatington, wait times also thinned out in the afternoon hours.

“I think the busiest times were probably going to be morning and after work,” said Jeanette Bishop. “I thought it was important to come out and vote because this is going to shape the direction of the country. There is a lot of passion on both sides.”

Fred Martinez was expecting a longer line than he encountered, but he wasn’t worried.

“I definitely wanted to come in person,” he said. “I have the time to wait so that’s not an issue to me.”

Amy Leap contributed to this report.