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Busy Beginning To Vote 2012

SCRANTON — At noon Tuesday, the polls have been open for five hours as people in our area, and across the country, choose a president, plus a new congress...

SCRANTON -- At noon Tuesday, the polls have been open for five hours as people in our area, and across the country, choose a president, plus a new congress and state lawmakers.

It's been a busy morning in a lot of places. A check shows an active scene at polling places in the Scranton area.

Voter after voter after voter came through the doors of the polling place at Myrtle Street United Methodist Church in Scranton -- more than 100 in the first hour after polls opened at 7 a.m.

One of those early voters was Ahmeel Kirton.  He talked about the issues that brought him there.

"Jobs and the economy," said Kirton.

Elaine Mueller said she made up her mind months ago, and looked forward to making her vote count.

"I've been keeping up on the elections all along, so I'm thrilled to have my right to vote. I'm thrilled to be here and I wouldn't miss it for anything."

Mueller said she's most interested in women's issues -- and with a child in college -- education and jobs.

Many of the people who showed up Tuesday have been through this many times, but some are new to the experience, and especially new to the American experience.

Shawn Seabrook has been an American citizen since 2005. This is his second presidential election.

"It's always an important thing. There are people that have always struggled to vote in all the countries that have freedom, so people should go out and make the effort, even though it's freezing cold out here."

Seabrook says voting in the United States isn't that different from voting back in his home country of England, with fewer major political parties in the U.S.

You will be asked for ID when you vote today, but you don't have to show one, and they can't stop you from voting if you don't have one.

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