A first-time voter’s experience casting a ballot in Northeast Ohio

It was a proud moment, another sign of adulthood for me, as I left New Hope Church in Fairview Park after voting for the first time. Several images from when I was younger ran through my mind, of seeing my parents with their voter stickers. Those stickers are a sign that the wearer cares about what is happening around them and wants to make a difference for what they believe is the right choice.

Elections have come around again, and this time I am over 18 and registered to vote. As a politically interested individual, it was my duty to vote. There were 37 issues to vote on in the midterm ballot. While it is fully one’s prerogative to vote on each, I focused my time leading up to today on the major elections, levies, and charter amendments. Last week I spent time reading over a sample ballot, to ensure that I understood the levies and amendments, and of course the candidates for governor and senate. 

As a freshman at John Carroll University, I had to rely on my parents for transportation. After a 30-minute drive from the campus to the polling station, my father and I walked right in. The line had died down considerably from what volunteers said about the morning rush. There I was greeted by friendly faces that seemed excited to see the community’s involvement in political participation. I stood in a brief queue before my driver’s license was scanned and was handed a three-sheet front-and-back (six-page) ballot. From there, I went to my voting box and cast my votes. After spending a few moments of final contemplation on the issues at hand, I proceeded to the scanning box and submitted my ballot. Additionally, I picked up my “OHIO VOTED” sticker proudly.

On my way out after casting my vote, one of the volunteers asked me if it was my first time, and I responded: “Yes, it is.” They said, “Congratulations, ” and thanked me for voting. It was a memorable experience.

The “OHIO VOTED” sticker is another reminder that despite how often people disagree with each other, we are all just Americans trying to make a better tomorrow, one vote at a time.