Everyone... We have a voter

Liana Secondino 

With the election coming up, “I Voted!” stickers are decorating the faces of celebrities as Instagram stories are crowded with encouraging rationale about the right to vote. In our Class of 2021, a couple of seniors are of voting age, one of them being Carmel Coblence, who was once a dancing queen and will now be a dancing voter this Friday on October 30th, her birthday.

Unaware of the whole voting process, I was curious to find out about Carmel’s registration plans. I asked her, “Although you’re turning eighteen this Friday, when did you register?” She replied, “I registered October 3rd this year with regard to the deadline on October 9th. As soon as I turn eighteen, I’m not sure where, but I’m going to vote somewhere in New Rochelle with my mom.” 

With regard to the Pandemic, a lot of people are choosing to take the route of absentee ballots, or voting by mail. According to the Pew Research Center, there are about 50% of Americans pursuing absentee ballots  There’s controversy surrounding the safety of submitting a vote by mail, but according to the FBI Director, Christopher Wray, “We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election.” However, intelligence officials are continuing to warn that countries like Russia, China, and Iran are engaging in overt influences of the 2020 presidential election.

With that said, Carmel has chosen to exercise her right in person. “Frankly, I don’t trust mail in ballots and am skeptical of the U.S. Postal System. Really, I want to feel like I voted,” she said. Here, Carmel articulates the essence of voting. It seems it’s something about the dividers and black curtains that guard the power of a pen which ultimately determines the outcome of this election. So really, how does voting speak to adolescence? Carmel says, “We are finally old enough to statistically matter. It teaches me to take initiative on social and political matters.”

Outside of the enormous 64 million voting population this year, there is also a certain quantity that chooses not to vote. One can assume those who choose not to vote find no incentive because they encounter dilemmas such as indecisiveness and simply a lack of political knowledge. Carmel expressed the disadvantage of this choice: regret, by saying,“I think that if they were to look back years from now, they would regret not voting in such a dire time of history.” 

It’s a topic of discussion and one that brings about a lot of questioning. As learners of our history, we’ve learned about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the notorious 19th Amendment. I asked Carmel, “With regard to this prominent fight, do you think such a movement should encourage female voters, and voters in general to vote?”  She replied, “I can’t assume the reasons why people don’t vote, but I feel that it’s a perfect opportunity to represent your democracy and the history that rewarded us with this.”

I was wondering where Carmel will be sticking her “I Voted!” sticker, maybe on her laptop or even social media. “I’m not celebrating, I’m exercising my right.” An alternative way to look at celebrating. In exercising your right, advocacy for positive change erupts. I asked, “Amongst the many circumstances this year has brought us, what kind of change are you voting for?”  Carmel replied, “I’m voting for a better COVID-19 response and a well-working vaccine.” It seems those are our nation’s largest concerns right now. 

It’s been a year of unprecedented circumstances and anxiety about the future. With election day coming up on November 3rd, everyone is on the edge of their seats anticipating the outcome of this event. Vote for the future because your vote counts.