First-time voters sometimes stand in silence, as if they didn’t want to know what the person in front or behind them was thinking or whom they be voting for, along with the other hundred or so experienced voters waiting for their shot at the ballot on Nov. 8.
Ebony Gonzales, 18, is a Delta College student hoping to vote for every election from here on out.
“I wish to get my opinion in,” she said. “You never know when that one vote can make all the difference.”
Then there are those who will change their vote last minute instead of voting for the candidate of their choice.
There are also those who may have been pressured into making the wrong choice and scared about how they’ll be affected by the elections outcome.
“I’m voting this year because I don’t want Trump as president,” said 18-year old Delta student Francisco Damian.
Jocelyn Rebolledo, 18, also a Delta student said she didn’t want Trump to win the election as well.
She was part of the June Presidential Primary Election and liked how exposed she was to all the different parties — “it was actually interesting” — but looking back she said the whole election is horrible “because of all the hate that they have created between the people.”
Throughout history there has been a struggle between those who want to vote and those who want to deny people the right to vote based off nationality and gender.
“Voting is a privilege to have,” said Rebolledo, “because there are people who can’t vote but want to vote, so if you can vote then vote.”
Rebolledo feels the same way about voting, “it’s one of the things that says ‘Hey you’re a U.S. citizen and you should be proud of that.’”
When the Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965 Lyndon B. Johnson declared the enactment was a matter of morality and not just politics.
Christian Rodriguez, is a political major and second year student at Delta, said, “in order for a true democracy to work every person’s voice hould be heard and voting gives you that opportunity.”
The historic bill is now a monumental law because it knocked down legal barriers.
The right to vote finally seemed secure for all people. Provisions were continually being made to help the people not limit them.
This legislation had safeguards in place to prevent such egregious forms of disenfranchisement.
Yet, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act.
The fight for voting rights remains as critical as ever.
This year happens to be the first presidential election in so many years without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act, according to the American Civil Liberty Union.
Though it’s getting harder to vote in the U.S. and though various restrictions have been placed in the 2016 elections there are still young first time voters who have prepared themselves for this year’s election and will still have strived to vote.
However, there are organizations to help protect the voters rights such as: 866–our-vote and iVote.
Gonzales said she thought the system was messed up and “the government was something to start clear of” and she has always “thought that politics was boring or filled with nothing but corrupt, power and money hungry jerks.”
Her views have changed a lot after working with multiple campaigns and having participated with the Young Democrats of San Joaquin.
From her experience she learned that there are people out there who really want to make a difference and help people.
“This year’s elections have been like no others and very on edge. Both candidates for the presidential election have very different views,” Gonzales said.
Rodriguez said that Donald Trump lacks the temperament and experience to be President.
Being a first time voter is like a testament to the system of government.
“We vote to choose the people that represent us,” said Damian, “so they could make the decisions that benefit us.”
