The diverse group of voters created a sharp contrast to the rather drab voting station at Toomey Abbott Towers, which featured little more than gray floors, a smattering of fliers and several sets of finicky automatic doors.

As one of the two voting stations on Syracuse University’s campus, Toomey Abbott Towers accommodated a flood of voters of all ages, backgrounds and political affiliations on Tuesday. Voters filled out their ballots at eight freestanding voting stations, with privacy provided in the form of three-sided cardboard screens emblazoned with stars and stripes.

The polls were open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Many of the voters supported President Barack Obama and cast their ballots according to general politics and policy, rather than campaigning or current events.

Sonia Tobolski, a Syracuse retiree, said she voted for Obama, despite her pro-life views, because she hopes he will create jobs in the community.

But the optimism she felt in 2008, when she “thought Obama was going to be the greatest president,” has waned. She blamed this on Obama’s aggressiveness in the debates and a general increase in partisanship.

Dewayne Dixie, another Syracuse native, said Obama needs more time to fix the situation he inherited.

“He’ll be long gone when you start really seeing the changes that he’s implementing,” he said.

Dixie also said he sees Romney as out of touch, due to things like his infamous 47 percent remark.

For Leslie Walters, a sophomore broadcast and digital journalism major, women’s health care and education were major influences in her decision to support Obama.

But Romney supporters were present at the polls too.

Local construction worker Tim McCormick said he based his decision on the two issues he views as most important: energy and foreign policy. He said he feels “we appear weaker” under the current administration and approves of Romney’s plan to boost the economy by taking advantage of fossil fuels while maintaining a focus on renewable energy.

Another Romney supporter, freshman policy studies major Kelsey Chipman, said she was not impressed with Obama’s performance during the last four years. She said he spent too much energy courting the media and not enough building up the middle class.

Even third parties found representation.

Marcus Rosten, a sophomore natural history and interpretation major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, voted for Gary Johnson to help third parties, such as libertarians, gain recognition and break into the two-party system.

“I feel that my vote really doesn’t matter in New York state because regardless, it’s going to go to Barack Obama,” he said.

The hundreds of students and community members who voted at Toomey Abbott Towers, despite their differing viewpoints, all had a common complaint: No celebratory “I voted today” stickers were provided.

But still, voters agreed the election was one of importance.

McCormick, the local construction worker, said he felt this election “might be the turning point in our history.”

Published on November 7, 2012 at 5:56 am

Contact Maggie: mmcregan@syr.edu