Voters across the Island headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the presidential primaries.

Islanders had their say in who they believe should be the nominee for the Democratic, Libertarian and Republican parties ahead of the general election in November. 

Though there were few sign holders displaying their candidate pride in the rainy weather Tuesday, a short line had formed at the West Tisbury polling center by mid-afternoon.

“It’s been, actually pretty steady,” said town clerk Tara Whiting-Wells. “It’s busier than a normal primary, it feels like.”

Polls are open until 8 p.m., but ahead of Tuesday, about 1,600 Islanders had cast ballots via mail-in or early voting, according to the secretary of the commonwealth’s office. Twenty-three people had already voted in the town of Gosnold.

For the Democratic nomination, President Joe Biden, Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson are all on the ballot. For the Republicans, the ballot has former President Donald Trump, Chris Christie, Ryan Binkley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. 

Richard Toole, a 74-year-old Oak Bluffs resident, voted for President Biden, though he was struggling because of Mr. Biden’s stance on Israel. 

“Having a hard time voting for Biden, but I am,” Mr. Toole said. “They’re blowing my tax dollars up…They’re blowing citizens up.” 

On the Republican side, Cassandra Bowler was casting her vote for Nikki Haley. 

“She’s the better option on my Republican ticket,” she said. 

Oak Bluffs Republican voter Joe Haertel, though, was siding with Mr. Trump. 

“My main reason, I’m 100 per cent pro-life and Trump proved he is 100 per cent pro-life,” Mr. Haertel said at the Oak Bluffs polls.

In Edgartown, Sarah Apy said she had been voting blue in Edgartown for over 40 years, whether she liked the candidate or not. 

“There are many years I feel like I’m voting for the lesser of two evils,” she said. 

This year, the ongoing crisis in Gaza prompted her to take a stand at the polls. In protest of President Joe Biden’s continued support for Israeli military action, Ms. Apy voted “uncommitted” on her Democratic ballot. Her vote is part of a larger, nationwide movement by activists urging President Biden to stop all U.S. military aid to Israel. 

“I’m really annoyed with Joe Biden,” she said. “He’s a warmonger...I don’t see any excuse for it to be going on.” 

Massachusetts is one of 15 states holding primaries on what is known as “Super Tuesday.”

President Biden took the 2020 Democratic primary on the Island, garnering 36 per cent of the vote and beating out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Former President Trump beat out former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, earning more than 80 per cent of the vote.

Mark DeFeo, an unenrolled voter, said he’s been voting in Edgartown since he was 18 nearly 50 years ago. 

When asked what his hopes are for November, Mr. DeFeo said he didn’t dare speak it aloud. 

“Unity,” he said after a long pause.

Brooke Kushwaha, Thomas Humphrey and Addison Antonoff contributed to this report.