Residents of the greater Los Angeles area were asked who they voted for and why. Here is what they had to say:
Pepperdine juniors Megan and Morgan Jefferson were wearing matching Obama shirts Tuesday morning. “He thinks millionaires and billionaires should pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of us,” said Megan Jefferson, 20, of Houston. “Really it’s a no brainer.” Her twin, Morgan Jefferson, said she was voting for Obama because he “ended the War in Iraq and is drawing the war in Afghanistan to a close.” She also added, “ I am a first time voter, so this time I went with my party, but in the future I could vote differently.”
Malibu resident and former Seaver College dean David Baird, 73, said he voted for Obama.“ I like the job that he (Obama) has done the four years,” Baird said. “I voted yes on 30 because I think that the education is going to suffer dramatically without additional revenue. I am motivated by more social economic issues.”
Erica Steinberg, 22, of Malibu, said she was going to vote for Obama.“I’m voting for Obama because he’s African-American, but we’re f-cked either way,” she said as she searched for her correct voting location. “I’m like a chicken with its head cut off running around Malibu.”
“I’m voting for Obama because I keep seeing Romney lie,” said Milton Lockheart, 48, of Santa Monica said at the Malibu Country Mart. “I don’t trust him.” When asked about the propositions, Lockheart said they are obscure. He plans on asking what his friend, who is a lawyer, thinks about them.
Pepperdine senior Sam Meyer said he was voting for Romney. “I don’t think Obama’s plan is that different from four years ago,” Meyer said.
“I’m voting for Romney because if Obama continues in office, we will become more like a European country,” said Pepperdine junior Melissa Carr, of Sacramento. “People don’t realize that freedom is a part of a democratic society and we’re giving that up for socialism by voting for Obama.”
Ben Villa, 33, of Ventura, said he’s not voting today because he’s not up to date to date on the issues. If he were voting, he said vote for Romney because “Obama is too close to China and Russia and communism stuff. He said he doesn’t associate with a party, he only votes for what’s best.
“I am voting for Barack Obama because I think he is doing a decent job,” said former Los Angeles Times reporter and Malibu resident Veronique de Turenne. “… I want to give him a chance to finish it.” “I’m a journalist, a registered independent, and I never vote along party lines, but rather according to my ideology or conscience,” Turenne said. She said she was still figuring out what propositions to vote for or against. “I’m going to vote for Prop 30 and for the death penalty prop, but I need to finish reading up about the rest.”
Kai He, 39, of North Hollywood, said he was voting for Obama. “I don’t want to change drivers; when we get new drivers there’s a lot of uncertainty,” He said. “I voted for Obama, because we already know where he is headed.”
“I’m voting for Romney, because Obama’s terrible and there’s a slight chance Matt Romney might be better,” said Scott Boras, 51, of Agoura Hills. “I’m voting yes on 32 and yes on R, but my general default is no [on the props] so we can allow the people to decide what to do.”
Jasmine Johnson, 22, Los Angeles resident said she was voting for Obama. “Barack, because honestly I’m not really into politics, but I’ve always been a Democrat,” Johnson said. “Romney doesn’t seem genuine to me. A lot of presidents get elected and don’t do what they said they would do during while running. “I’m against [the death penalty prop], because there are some people who deserve it, and if they abolish the death penalty, jails will become even more overcrowded than they already are,” Johnson said. She also said she was voting for Prop 37. “I don’t think they should be giving us genetically modified meat anyway. With all the health problems in the U.S., why are they giving us fake meat? Especially when people in other countries need food, send the meat to them!”
“I am not going to vote,” Malibu resident Michael Williams Corrodi said. “I feel like this is a beautiful country, but it is full of hate, destruction, greed, and dishonesty and founded on the genocide of the red man and slavery of the black man. At the same time, it is so great and powerful and amazing. But as for voting, either way we’re going to have a president, and whether it is Obama or Romney, he will have an uphill battle to fight. Not everything will ever be 100 percent perfect in this country, and I feel better if I keep to myself and let other people vote.”
Twenty-five-year-old Brent Rogin from Detroit, Mich., didn’t vote. “I don’t like either of the candidates,” he said. “And since I am from out of state I didn’t follow the California propositions.”
Dina Newman, wife of assistant professor of Political Science Brian Newman, doesn’t want to disclose who she is voting for. She said the propositions are based on small ideas and there is no way they can work out all the kinks “Propositions are a bad idea because voters don’t have enough info to make those calls,” Newman said.
“I am an international student so I didn’t have a vote,” Jeanine Jiang, 23-year-old from China, said. “I watched the debate for an hour, but the two candidates seemed the same.”
Chris Amezquita, 23, a Pepperdine super senior, has not voted yet but said he is planning to vote for Romney. He is interested in the large tax propositions, namely proposition 30 and 38. He is not affiliated with any political party, but said he would probably be Republican. “I just vote for who I want to win,” Amezquita said.
Sam Meyer, 21, a Pepperdine senior, voted for Romney. He voted in favor of Proposition 38, which would limit the funding to schools. He is a registered Republican. “I think there needs to be a change of policies,” Meyer said. “I don’t think Obama’s plan is that different from four years ago.”
Eric Karch, 21, a Pepperdine junior, voted for Romney. He didn’t vote for any propositions. He is a non-registered Republican. “I think Romney’s the better man for the job,” Karch said.
Leah Schwartz, 22, a Pepperdine senior, voted for Obama. She voted against the death penalty and in favor of the education tax. She is a registered Democrat. “I believe [Obama] cares about the American people as a whole,” Schwartz said.
Piya Sukhija, 44, from Valencia, voted for Obama. She didn’t vote for any propositions. She is unaffiliated with political parties. “[Obama] should return for a second term in office,” Sukhija said.
“I’m voting for Romney because I’m a conservative and I don’t like the way Obama is running things,” said Hanna Lore Klein, 63, of New York City. “Romney is a businessman and he knows how to get things done the right way.”
“I’m not sure who I’m voting for,” said Ana Berman, 40, of Los Angeles. “I like parts of both candidates … I mean, I’m a liberal so probably Obama but I’m really not sure.”
Malibu resident Bob Johnson, 56, said he was voting for Obama. “He’s the best choice because he needs another four years to finish what he put into place.”
“Romney is the best choice,” said Alyssa Smith, 31, of Los Angeles. “His economic and military policies are what our country needs to thrive. Definitely voting for Romney.”
“I’m voting for Obama because I’m a Democrat, and I voted “yes” to Propositions 30 and 38,” said Angie Orneles, 38, of Malibu.
“I’m voting for Obama, but I’m not voting on party lines,” said Linda Alamperese, 64, of Malibu. “I vote for whoever.”
“I’m voting for Obama because of personal preference, and I voted “yes” to Proposition 37, said Raynielle Collins, 20, of Malibu. “That’s the only (proposition) I remember.”
“Romney, absolutely. I’m a Republican,” said Gary Carr, 58, of Malibu. “Our freedoms are at stake. Our jobs are at stake. The Democrats sold out a long time ago. They’re all about cradle to grave, power, and control now.”
Ventura resident, James Ferguson, 41, said he is voting for presidential-hopeful Mitt Romney because he doesn’t like how much money Obama has been spending the past four years. Ferguson said he isn’t voting on any of the California propositions because doesn’t know anything about them.
Marina Cary, 25, of Malibu still isn’t sure who she is voting for for president. “I’m not really feeling either candidate, yet,” she said. She said she still needs to read up on the propositions.
Clay Averbuck, 60, of Malibu said he’ll be voting for Mitt Romney because his business and economic policies. Averbuck said he’s “self-employed, so it matters.”
Sheryl Burnstein, 60, of Calabasas said she voted for incumbent Barack Obama because “I’m a diehard Democrat and I’m a woman.”
Klaire Korver, a senior from Redwood City, said she voted for Romney. “ I don’t agree with Obama’s health care, defense and social security.”
Samantha Cash, a sophomore from San Diego, said she voted for Ron Paul. “ I am neither a hardcore Democrat nor Republican,” Cash said. “ I don’t feel like he can win because he doesn’t get the majority but I’m hoping he gets elected for the benefit in the house. I am independent, I vote for what I think is right.”
Eric Heimstaedt, a junior from Newport Beach, said he voted for Romney. “I felt like his plans were going to help,” Heimstaedt said. “We need a businessman for our country.”
Sam Meyer, a senior from Los Altos, said he voted for Romney. “ I think that Obama’s plans are leading us into the wrong direction,” Meyer said. “It is time for a change and something else needs to be done.”
Pepperdine Freshman Luke Collins, 19, of Orange County, said he was voting for Obama for “Social reasons, and honestly because I don’t like Mitt Romney.”
“I voted for Mitt Romney, because most of my political views come from my family, and they are Mitt Romney supporters,” said Pepperdine freshman Melissa Miller, 18, of Northern California.
“I am a republican and I disagree with Obama’s health care plan, and think that it needs to be stopped,” said Pepperdine junior Laura Hamilton, 20, of Simi Valley. “Also I think that Romney would be better at addressing foreign policy.”
“I’m voting for Obama because I believe in equality and his tax plan. I like his stance on military planning,” said Pepperdine sophomore, Hira Qarni, 19, Louisiana.
“I’m voting for Obama because I like his policies more,” said Ashley Alvarado, 23, of Calabasas and a Pepperdine Admissions office worker.
“I voted for Obama because he supports the middle class families,” said Pepperdine freshman, Lauren McRae, 18, of Los Angeles.
“ I’m voting for Obama because he’s more versatile and Romney was stagnate in his debate and kept saying the same things,” said Pepperdine freshman, Elizabeth Rodrigo, 18, of San Francisco.
“Well I’m voting for Romney because I agree with him more than Obama,” said Pepperdine junior, Brandy War, 20, of Thousand Oaks. “I agree with his fiscal plans and his forum policy.”
“I’m voting for Romney because of economic issues,” said Pepperdine sophomore, Joseph Lindley, 19, of Eugene, Ore.
“I voted for Obama mostly because we all need to help each other and he is more inclined to do that,” said Noreen Austin, 56, of Malibu. Austin said women’s rights were important to her and preserving the middle class, and believed Obama was the best candidate on those issues.
“I voted for Johnson because I didn’t want to vote for the lesser of two evils,” said Tari Wright, 27, of Virginia. “I was going to vote for Paul, but Johnson’s beliefs are on par with him.”
Josh Smith, 32, of Sacramento said he was not going to vote because he did not like either candidate. “I grew up with extreme Republicans, but didn’t get into that,” Smith said. Nor did he like the last four years, however.
John Amiri, 58, of Thousand Oaks said he voted for Obama because he was on the right path and thought of everyone, not just the rich. “The Republican party doesn’t do that,” Amiri said.
John Badt, 45, of Santa Monica, said he was voting for Obama because he is the better candidate. Badt said he believed Obama focuses on jobs and the middle class. He said he didn’t like that Romney is a Mormon.
Brad Hill, 42, of Malibu said he supported Johnson because he was the only candidate that means what he says, but he was not going to vote. He said he liked that Johnson focused on reforming the federal government and how it relates to the state. “We need more power to the state,” Hill said.
“I voted for Obama cause I am a Democrat and I do not agree with Romney,” said Danica Loker, 19, of Malibu.