First Time Voting On November 3, 2020, millions of people voted on who would be the next president of the United States, along with a variety of other things like propositions and city council. Many also mailed in their ballots due to the pandemic. Voting is not a super complicated
BY ALEX SWEN
asked was, “would you like to preregister to vote?” I clicked yes and answered questions about my name, where I lived, etc. Next thing I know, I’m preregistered and now I can legally vote once I turn 18.” With any election, there are new voters who are having their first voting experience. I myself also voted. “This year, I had the chance to vote for the first time in the Presidential election. It was harder than I expected, having to research all of the different propositions and candidates. On voting day I went to the polls, marked my ballot, and that was it.” This 2020 election had the most voters in U.S. history with over 100 million votes returned according to nbcnews.com.
as a citizen. For me voting requires a certain level of maturity shared with critical thinking. In the process of making a decision, I thought about my future and the rest of the society. I registered to vote in March, but I didn’t turn 18 until September. My family and I went to the nearest polling place. I expected it to be a slow process at the polling place, but it wasn’t because I filled out my ballot book so I knew what I was going to do and I just filled in the oval voting target.” Zane Rice (12), another first time voter said, “I voted by mail so my ballot arrived at my house. I opened it, filled it out, and took it to the voting box at the city hall.” Zane is one of over half the voting demographic in the United States -Alex Swen who voted by mail. Mail in ballots process, as many would think. were far more popular this year than According to usa.gov you must first usual, because going to the polls register to vote, this can be done could endanger one’s health due to online in most states and must be COVID-19. done before the election, the time Accommodations were made to before depending again on the state ensure that everyone could exercise you live in. Next, research and decide their natural right as a citizen to vote. on the candidates and issues you’re Whether mail in or polling place, the -Leanny Arteaga going to vote on, and finally you go to votes were cast and tallied. Although the polling place on election day and Voting is an important part of being the United States is in a global cast your votes. a United States citizen. Danelle Taylor pandemic, voting is too important a Once you turn 16, you can Johnston, Mirror Advisor said, “It part of being an American to forgo. preregister to vote so that when was really powerful to be able to vote you turn 18 you‘re automatically as a new citizen for the first time in registered. Elise Chuquimia (12), who a presidential election in the 100th preregistered when she got her license anniversary of the 19th amendments said, “Preregistering to vote was fairly allowing women to vote.” simple for me. Prior to taking my Leanny Arteaga (12) said, “Before drivers test, I had to fill out all this and after I voted I felt the big information. One of the questions responsibility of exercising my voice
“It was harder than I expected, having to research all of the different propositions and candidates.”
“Before and after I voted I felt the big responsibility of exercising my voice as a citizen.”
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photo via istock
