New York, US – In the early hours of November 8, long lines snaked through the streets of New York as the city’s residents headed to the polls to vote in the presidential election.

“New York is a largely Democratic city and state, but every vote matters,” said Jon Lewis, 52. “It’s our democratic right to make our voice heard.” Lewis says he voted for the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. “She’s no Obama, but she’s the best we got right now. It’s been a deeply divisive election filled with falsehoods, scandals, racism and inequality. It showed us just how divided our country is.”

Tensions are running high in the city of 8.5 million people. Hundreds of restaurants and cafes had signs up encouraging people to go out and vote, and the streets have been filled with people proudly wearing their “I Voted” stickers.

Polls in the city are open from 6am until 9pm.

At polling stations across the city, hundreds of people have waited peacefully for their turn to fill in their ballots at the booths.

While the race for the White House is mainly between the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the Republican candidate Donald Trump, there are also third-party candidates such as Jill Stein of the Green Party and Gary Johnson of the Libertarians.

If Hillary Clinton wins, she will become the first female president.

Angie Rosario, an 18-year-old student, said she was looking forward to the elections being over. “Everyone is quite tense right now,” she sighed. “It’s been stressful and chaotic, to say the least.”