OPINION…FROM WHERE I SIT: First-Time Voter, Forever American

This past week has been crazy, to say the least. We the people had to make a very important decision: voting for our president to serve the next four years.

This year is my first time voting. I was excited for the experience to vote at the polls. Initially, I applied for a mail-in ballot, but after I thought it through, I decided to go to my local polling location.

I brought a number of things with me: my ID, voters’ registration, mail-in ballot (unopened), and my mask (to still follow COVID-19 regulations). My family and I went to vote together at a local fire station in Elizabeth, Pa., near my home.

When I arrived, there was a short line, which I was not really expecting. Nonetheless, I was happy about it. Everyone wore a mask and social distanced, and I was initially surprised because usually in Elizabeth, the people do not like wearing their masks.

It was finally time to walk inside. When I entered the building, the smell of hand sanitizer overwhelmed me, even through my mask. This was actually ironic to me, because I did not see anyone sanitizing the voting stations at all or even swapping out the pens that everyone was using.

I had to speak to four people, who were poll workers. The first was a woman who asked me my name, and as I was answering her question, I was simultaneously surrendering my unopened mail-in ballot to her. She then gave me a look of annoyance and told the poll worker next to her “Oh my, we have another one of these.”

With this being my first-time voting, I was already anxious I was doing something wrong and the poll workers seemed to not want to help that much. The next poll worker I encountered asked me, “Why did not fill out your mail-in ballot?” After I told him my reasoning, he told me, in an annoyed tone, I should have just sent my ballot back in the mail.

The next worker I spoke with was a lady who was just writing down everyone’s names and political party. What I did not like about this experience is that we had to ultimately shout our political party while others were within earshot. I felt like it is no one’s business but my own.

Finally, it was time to cast my vote. Although, my process was slightly different due to me surrendering my mail-in ballot, I filled out my ballot and turned it in accordingly.

My first experience at the polls was not what I thought it would be, but we are under strange circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, I felt very excited and helpful.  It made feel a part of something greater than me.

My ancestors fought for me to vote, so I was very proud to do so. Our votes count and I genuinely felt and still feel this way.

Story by:  Aniya Robins (aar5544@psu.edu)