Doing research and collecting shots for an upcoming TRACE feature, photographer Lauren Silberman and I traveled from Harlem down through Manhattan and into Brooklyn to talk to voters during New York’s primary contribution to “Super Tuesday.” We ran into some amazing people from not just all over the city, but from all over the world as well.

Ousmane Sysaune (pictured above), a 42-year-old man who originally hails from the Cote d’Ivoire, cited the importance of “bringing this beautiful country together” as his reason for walking through the pouring rain to get to his polling place on 127th Street. We also met Pierre, an energetic and enthusiastic Parisian national. Despite not being allowed to vote in the US, Pierre has spent lots of time and money on creating “get out the vote” posters and fliers.

We talked to Iraq War veterans, students, Texans, and nearly everyone else that can be represented by New York’s always-exciting cross section of global diversity. While there was no clear winner on the national stage yesterday (and might not be until May!), what was clear was that the city (and the world) are endlessly excited and inspired by the leadership options manifested in Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Photo Credit: Lauren Silberman