What Minnesota voters are saying about election

Across Minnesota, millions of people cast votes Tuesday in races including the White House, Senate, Congress, the Legislature, two proposed constitutional amendments, and many more local races. Here’s what they’re saying about their votes:

— “I like to help others, whether it means I have to pay more taxes. I believe in helping people who aren’t as fortunate as I. . I like Obama as a person. . Romney, I just don’t think he’s sincere. He has his own agenda. He’ll promise things but I don’t trust him.” — Terri Montbriand, 53, a medical secretary in Bloomington who voted for Obama.

— “I know a lot of gay people and I just don’t think it should matter, I don’t think it going to affect anyone else if some people do that. Because I don’t think it’s a choice for them. If that’s the way they are, I think that should be respected. I figure if somebody makes a commitment to someone else, that’s what the important thing is.” — Montbriand, explaining her vote against the gay marriage ban.

— “One man, one woman. Pretty simple.” — Richard Bennett, 68, an engineering contractor in Bloomington, explaining his vote in favor of the gay marriage ban.

— “It seems a modest expectation for one of the most important things you can do, to prove you are legitimate.” — Bennett, explaining his support for the photo ID requirement.

— “I just believe in his policies, much more so than Mitt Romney’s. . I do believe that we are moving forward. . I think voting for Mitt Romney is just going to put us behind.” — Laurie Leung, 48, of Bloomington, a compliance manager in health insurance. She voted for Obama.

— “I do believe that people should have the right to marry the person they love, and I feel pretty strongly about that one.” — Leung, explaining her vote against the gay marriage ban.

— “I don’t like the direction we’re going now. Too much debt. Kids will have to pay for everything — tax increases to pay for everything. Right now it’s not really rewarding people that want to work hard, to make a buck. Because it kind of gets redistributed anyhow, no reason to really go out and work really hard to make money, in a small business or something like that. And that’s that.” — Bob DeYoung, 54, an engineering technician in Bloomington. He voted for Romney.

— “He’s actually done the change he talked about for this country, and maybe he can do more if we give him a chance. He’s done a lot to get back to work and he’s done a lot for seniors.” — Allen Johnson, 56, a landscaper in Minneapolis.

— “It’s too easy to walk in here with a piece of paper and just vote. I believe you should have to prove that you’re an American and that you have the right to vote.” — Johnson, explaining his vote in favor of photo ID.

— “I don’t want gay marriage. I think it is wrong.” — Assan Shire, 20, a college student in Minneapolis voting in his first election.

— “Obama had a chance but here we are.” — Mohamed Mohamed, 40, a cab driver in Minneapolis who went for Obama in 2008 but was switching to Romney.

— “I believe a man and a woman is marriage.” — Mohamed, who voted for the gay marriage ban.

— “I’m a Democrat. Democrats give us welcome here, they give us freedom. All minorities are Democrats and all the rich are Republicans. Republicans don’t know my life.” — Ali Mohmud, 37, a driving instructor in Minneapolis. Mohmud said he never seriously considered Romney and dislikes Paul Ryan because “he wants to cut everything government does.”

— “I don’t think he’s the person to fix the economy — he wants to take us back to Bush policies and I can’t believe people forgot already what that was like.” — LaToya Elliott, 27, of Minneapolis, on Romney.

— “You can’t tell someone who to get married to, period. Who you love is who you love.” Elliott, on the marriage amendment.

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