New York - For a city used to moving at a frenetic pace, it was unusual to see New Yorkers waiting in long lines outside polling stations on Tuesday.

"A lot of Americans are seeing that the issues this year are close to home for them, so they want their voices to be heard ... it's not something that is surprising," said Jim Cage, who was accompanied by his wife.

"I have made up my mind, I'll vote for Obama," Cage said before the couple cast their ballots. "I hope he will do something to improve the economy in New York.

"I think he can improve the well-being of everyone nationally. I am in favour of a national healthcare plan and I think with 50 million Americans not having healthcare, that's an important issue," Cage said.

Another voter, Octavio Zenzueber, replied with a confident "absolutely" when asked whether he would vote for Obama.

"Hopefully most people (in New York) will vote for Obama because New York is a Democratic state," he said.

"Finally we are going to see a change in politics in America, a different kind of White House and a president who is going to be there for the masses and not for the top five per cent that have all the money," Zenzueber said.

For him, important issues were health care and the restoration of what he called "the dignity of our country."