First Time Voters

First Time Voting BY ALEX SWEN

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

“It was harder than I expected, having to research all of the different propositions and candidates.” -Alex Swen

process, as many would think. According to usa.gov you must first register to vote, this can be done online in most states and must be done before the election, the time before depending again on the state you live in. Next, research and decide on the candidates and issues you’re going to vote on, and finally you go to the polling place on election day and cast your votes.

Once you turn 16, you can preregister to vote so that when you turn 18 you‘re automatically registered. Elise Chuquimia (12), who preregistered when she got her license said, “Preregistering to vote was fairly simple for me. Prior to taking my drivers test, I had to fill out all this information. One of the questions asked was, “would you like to as a citizen. For me voting requires a preregister to vote?” I clicked yes and certain level of maturity shared with answered questions about my name, critical thinking. In the process of where I lived, etc. Next thing I know, making a decision, I thought about I’m preregistered and now I can legally my future and the rest of the society. vote once I turn 18.” I registered to vote in March, but With any election, there are new I didn’t turn 18 until September. voters who are having their first My family and I went to the nearest voting experience. I myself also voted. polling place. I expected it to be a “This year, I had the chance to vote slow process at the polling place, but for the first time in the Presidential it wasn’t because I filled out my ballot election. It was harder than I expected, book so I knew what I was going to having to research all of the different do and I just filled in the oval voting propositions and candidates. On target.” voting day I went to the polls, marked Zane Rice (12), another first time my ballot, and that was it.” This 2020 voter said, “I voted by mail so my election had the most voters in U.S. ballot arrived at my house. I opened it, history with over 100 million votes filled it out, and took it to the voting returned according to nbcnews.com. box at the city hall.”

“Before and after Zane is one of over half the voting demographic in the United States I voted I felt the big who voted by mail. Mail in ballots were far more popular this year than responsibility of usual, because going to the polls could endanger one’s health due to exercising my voice COVID-19. Accommodations were made to as a citizen.” ensure that everyone could exercise their natural right as a citizen to vote. -Leanny Arteaga Whether mail in or polling place, the votes were cast and tallied. Although

Voting is an important part of being the United States is in a global a United States citizen. Danelle Taylor pandemic, voting is too important a Johnston, Mirror Advisor said, “It part of being an American to forgo. was really powerful to be able to vote as a new citizen for the first time in a presidential election in the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendments allowing women to vote.” Leanny Arteaga (12) said, “Before and after I voted I felt the big responsibility of exercising my voice