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Woman bikes 40 minutes to cast early ballot; heres who got her vote

Cole Behrens
February 19, 2020

Columbus Dispatch

Catherine Girves pedaled her bike in the cold for the better part of an hour to get to the Franklin County Board of Elections early Wednesday morning to cast her ballot for Elizabeth Warren.

Another early voter, Brian Meyers, a volunteer for Bernie Sanders, said he wants to dispel the 鈥淏ernie bro鈥 stigma.

John Davis, a retired teacher, said he voted for Joe Biden because he thinks the former vice president is the only Democrat who can successfully battle President Donald Trump in the general election.

But with such an unsettled Democratic race for president, why are these people showing up to cast a ballot on the first day possible?

The sun had just crested over the horizon as Girves, executive director for Yay Bikes!, a bicycle advocacy group, arrived, clad in several layers of winter garments.

Girves, who lives on the Near East Side, said she joins her family every primary and general election to participate in early voting. For her, it鈥檚 tradition.

鈥淭hree generations of people across various jurisdictions of Franklin County, we typically come together, vote, and share a meal together,鈥 she said.

Girves said she is supporting Warren because the Massachusetts senator has a track record for getting things done.

鈥淓lizabeth Warren 鈥 I believe she is the most experienced, she has both a progressive and pragmatic agenda, she has a history of getting things done 鈥 she has plans.

鈥淎nd, in all honesty, I wonder how experienced a woman has to be, how prepared a woman has to be, to capture the nomination.鈥

Davis, who soon will turn 80, is a retired high school chemistry teacher. He said Biden will start to gain momentum as more states vote, so there is almost no chance he will drop out before Ohio鈥檚 March 17 primary.

鈥淚 have to see that, or I wouldn鈥檛 vote for him,鈥 Davis said.

鈥淜nowing Trump and his tactics, he鈥檚 gonna attack anyone. I think Biden will just stick his tongue out at him,鈥 Davis said.

Trump is unopposed in the Ohio GOP primary.

The 鈥淏ernie bro鈥 meme that Meyers said he wants to dispel is a reference to the perception that the Vermont senator鈥檚 supporters use their online presence to harass political opponents and their supporters.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always on my conscience about the whole 鈥楤ernie bro鈥 stigma. It really doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥 Meyers said. 鈥淏ut corporate media really runs with it, all the other anti-Bernie groups run with the stigma because (that鈥檚 all) they have to attack Sanders on.鈥

An hour before voters arrived at the Morse Road elections office, campaign workers who took days off work pitched tents, hung banners and sipped coffee in the parking lot as the sun rose and the polls opened.

Staffers and volunteers for Warren, Sanders and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg mixed in with those for local Democratic challengers Morgan Harper, a U.S. House candidate, and Mohamud Jama, an Ohio House candidate. The campaigns for some presidential hopefuls, such as former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, were present in sign only.

Warren鈥檚 camp had by far the most significant turnout, with three dozen people coming together at 7 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to see so many dedicated supporters turn out to cast the first votes for Elizabeth in Ohio this morning,鈥 said Anna Brichacek, Ohio for Warren state director.

The campaign of Harper, who is challenging 3rd District Rep. Joyce Beatty in the primary, had a table set up in between Sanders and Warren鈥檚 tents. Beatty did not have campaigners evident.

The early voting period began Wednesday and continues until just before next month鈥檚 primary.

Additionally, 6,100 Franklin County voters requested mailed absentee ballots as of Monday, according to the Board of Elections.

Cole Behrens is a fellow at the E.W. Scripps Statehouse News Bureau.

Email: cbehrens@dispatch.com

Twitter: @colebehr_report