On Tuesday, two sophomores at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, Julia McKenna and Anna Seftenberg, experienced a lengthy wait of six hours to cast their ballots. The students arrived at the Banana Factory Arts Center polling location around 10:15 a.m. ET but did not reach the front of the voting line until approximately 4 p.m. ET.
Upon inquiry to Northampton County Public Information Officer Becky Bartlett regarding the extended wait times, it was revealed that the high voter turnout this year contributed to the long lines. Additionally, one of the three voting machines at the center had malfunctioned earlier in the day, prompting the addition of three more machines, bringing the total to five at the location.
Julia McKenna expressed her surprise at the prolonged wait, expecting a maximum of two hours. She passed the time chatting with friends and playing games on her phone, grateful that Lehigh University had granted them the day off to vote.
Another college sophomore, Edward Lopez, shared his determination to wait as long as necessary to vote for Kamala Harris. Equipped with his iPad for reading and two portable chargers to stay powered up, Lopez was prepared for the long lines based on advice from friends.
Becky Bartlett assured voters that anyone in line by 8 p.m. would have the opportunity to cast their vote, ensuring that all individuals waiting would be accommodated.
