Voting for the first time was a surreal experience. Although I felt a bit nervous about taking on this adult responsibility, I was even more excited to stand up for my beliefs. As an eighteen-year-old woman, I registered to vote as soon as I was eligible back in August of 2024, even before my birthday. Before the election, I researched both candidates, so by the time early voting started, I felt ready to cast my vote. 

Upon arriving at my local polling center, I was unprepared for the amount of propaganda and protests. Even with early voting, there were dozens of yard signs along the entire road leading toward the polling center. In addition, someone was electioneering with a megaphone and banging pots and pans in the parking lot right outside. I was surprised that this was happening despite laws prohibiting such activities within a 100-foot radius of the polling center. Once I entered, however, I was shocked by the lack of a line. I had prepared myself for a possible wait but was happily in and out within 15 minutes. The whole experience moved quickly; from signing in to dropping off my ballot, the process was smooth and efficient. 

An aspect that caught me off guard was that the booths were not as private as I had anticipated them to be. Each voting machine was placed closely together, with a foot-tall privacy shield that barely covered the top of the screen. If I wanted to, I could have easily looked at the screen of the voter next to me. The poll workers seemed to be aware of this issue as they recommended that my mother and I avoid using adjacent booths. 

Another thing that took me by surprise was the length of the ballot. I thought it would include a few major races and some propositions my mother had warned me about, but there were numerous different questions and people running for different government positions. This experience helped me realize how important it is to stay informed about local issues since they’re all part of the ballot too. Each candidate also had their political party listed next to their name, which was helpful. 

The best part of this experience was how supportive and helpful all the employees were. They were quick to greet me as I walked in, and they all congratulated me as they heard I was a first-time voter. This was very exciting for me as it reminded me of the importance of voting. As I walked out of the polling center I felt a sense of pride for acting on my opinions and contributing to our democracy.

Finally, voting for the first time was an eye-opening experience. It reminded me of the importance of acting on my beliefs and understanding how my actions can make a difference in America. Despite the slight lack of privacy during the voting process, the overall experience was pleasant and I recommend everyone, especially those in The Village School community, to participate in future elections.

References

Election advisory no. 2020-06. (n.d.). Retrieved from 

https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/laws/advisory2020-06.shtml