From Claude O. Markoe Elementary School to the DC Canegata Ballpark, St. Croix was abuzz on Tuesday morning as Crucians turned out to make their voices heard in the 2024 Virgin Islands General Election.
Elaine Spencer, the voting center judge overseeing Markoe, said the island’s westernmost voting center had seen “steady” traffic. By 8:45 a.m., 113 people had cast their vote in contests for delegate to Congress, the V.I. Legislature, the Board of Elections, the Board of Education and the Sixth Constitutional Convention.
“Just come out and vote,” she said. “It’s an easy process.”
Voting center judge Daniel Sierra said at approximately 9:30 a.m. that everything had been “going smooth” at St. Croix Central High School. At DC Canegata, voting center judge Eurece Hendricks said things had been “pretty busy,” with 211 ballots cast by 10:09 a.m.
“Come prepared with your ID or someone to assist with the voting,” she advised, noting that some people require help navigating the voting process.
Elections Board member Florine Audain Hassell, making the rounds on Tuesday morning, said “the process is fair and the process is transparent.”
“Your vote is your voice and your voice is your vote,” she said. “Use your voice wisely and vote.”
Territory-wide, 1,387 people had voted on St. Thomas, 157 on St. John and 1,622 on St. Croix by noon, according to a press release issued by the Elections System.
At least one attempted voter, St Croix candidate for Board of Elections Mary Moorhead, was escorted out of a St. Croix voting center by law enforcement.
Sgt. Kirk Fieulleteau said in a statement provided to the Source that he received a call from Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes on Tuesday morning notifying him of a “disturbance” at the Claude O. Markoe voting center.
Fieulleteau, who traveled to Markoe to meet with the resident, said she was not arrested.
“She was detained and removed from the premises because she refused to comply with the orders made by the Board of Elections and she refused my lawful order to leave on her own,” he said.
Outside the voting centers, throngs of people danced, cheered and brandished signs in support of their preferred candidates.
Speaking to the Source outside Claude O. Markoe, Tyrique Evans — better known in the community as Big Man Pas — said he thought the three biggest issues for St. Croix voters this year were infrastructure, youth rehabilitation and healthcare. Evans said voters can get caught up in which candidate had the best fish fry or the most familiar name.
“But we don’t vet the candidates,” he said, encouraging voters to do their homework. Evans reminded Virgin Islanders that elected officials work for the people.
“We’re the bosses,” he said.
