As millions of voters flocked to the polls for election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, many were first-time voters. Seniors in high school and freshmen in college alike are buzzed with anticipation to get their voices heard in such a crucial election. Across the country, polls saw record turnout for early voting and mail-in-ballots, with around 78 million votes cast. For some CHS seniors, being able to vote in this election was important and exciting:
After only being eligible for five days, Lelia Durrie cast her vote on the morning of November 5th. Durrie spent time reviewing candidates and sample ballots with her parents to make sure she knew what to expect going into the polls. From a young age, Durrie had been visiting the polls with her parents each year, so she knew what to expect. “I live in the neighborhood, and I’ve always gone with my parents when they voted, so it felt like a safe space,” Durrie said. “Go vote if you can. It’s really important. And I’m honored that I was able to vote in this election and that my birthday was so close to the actual [election] day.”
Lucia Page Sander has been planning to vote since 2016. The day after Trump was elected Page Sander’s family drove to DC to participate in the 2016 Women’s March on Washington. “There were like thousands and thousands of people and I was tiny,” Page Sander said “I remember wearing my little purple snowsuit and holding a voter 2024 sign.”
Elliot Mason has been talking with both his mom and dad for many weeks in preparation for this election day. “I was really nervous because this is probably the most important election, or at least one of the most important elections in America’s history,” Mason said. “I made sure I marked the right box like four times, just in case I may have read it wrong or something.”
As a first-time voter Mason was caught off guard by the sheer number of items on his ballot. “I will definitely research way more. I’ll be more educated,” Mason said.
