That's me right after I voted. Selfie by Akilah Irvin.
Election Day felt like stepping into a circus where all the clowns were running the show. As soon as I walked into the polling place in the community center of the Sunset Green apartment complex in Yonkers, I felt the heat. It was so hot and sticky inside that it was hard to breathe. The air felt heavy, filled with everyone’s stress.
It helped to greet people with a friendly “Good Day.” They responded warmly and that helped make me feel welcome. The line wasn’t that long, but we seemed to move in slow motion. Each step forward felt harder, and my stomach got tighter the closer I got to the booth.
People around me looked just as nervous as I felt. Some checked their phones over and over, while others held their voting guides tightly. When I finally reached the front, I was sweaty and a bit dizzy. I handed over my ID and had to wait again while the poll worker looked through the tablet and tried to find my info. The workers couldn’t locate my name, so I had to repeat it over and over shouting the spelling above the noise around us. It was beyond frustrating, especially since one of the workers just sat there doing nothing to help. It felt like it took ages, and I could see people behind me getting restless, checking their watches and tapping their feet.
I filled out my ballot and heard every little sound around me, like the buzzing of the machines and the quiet voices of people nearby. Each choice felt really heavy, even though I had spent weeks learning about the candidates and issues. Voting isn’t just about picking a person or a stance on an issue; it’s about choosing leaders and policies that can shape daily life. Knowing the potential outcomes of each decision and may feel a greater sense of responsibility, which can make every decision feel meaningful or even daunting. By participating in elections, I’m holding leaders accountable. If leaders don’t act in the public’s best interest, voters have the power to replace them with someone who will.
I checked my ballot one last time, I put it in the machine and felt a wave of relief. When I walked out, I took a deep breath.
Series: Elections
