My Experience as a First-Time Voter
By • November 4, 2024 0 616
By Lucy Cullen
This election will be my first time voting. Unfortunately, I turned 18 in 2021 and just missed the cutoff for the 2020 election. Throughout high school, I became a more politically aware person. Events such as the Parkland shooting, the rise of the #MeToo movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic—to name a few—encouraged me to try harder than I previously had to become more educated on the policies of local and national representatives.
When 2020 came around, even though I could not vote, I knew what and whom I supported and understood the impact the election would have on not only myself, but also the entire country. It was so frustrating to want to participate but just barely missing the mark age-wise. At the same time, however, I knew that I would not have to worry about the protection of certain rights, like reproductive healthcare, because I live in Connecticut, a consistently blue state—a privilege, I am aware.
I live in an area of Connecticut that is affluent, safe, and has a great education system. As I got older, I began to understand the privilege that came with that. I went to an academically rigorous high school, was taught how to be media literate, and learned the importance of participating in the American government. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would not do my part. I requested my absentee ballot in September, filled it out, and sent it back home to my town clerk. Even though I did not receive the “I Voted” sticker I wanted, it was nevertheless extremely fulfilling. I was now an active participant in deciding the results of arguably one of the most historical presidential elections in American history.
Even at 20 years old, it was incredibly moving to see a Black and Asian American female presidential candidate on the ticket. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for women from generations before me to witness how far women have come over the past decades, let alone past centuries. I am honored that this election is my first, that I can support a candidate dedicated to protecting individual freedom, aware of the injustices still present in America today, and actively working to end them.
Even though I may not live in a battleground state like Pennsylvania or Georgia, states that will ultimately decide the future of America, I know that my vote is equally as important. I vote not only for myself, but for those who may not have access to the healthcare they need, food for their children, or a roof over their head. I know that this election is much bigger than myself, and I am grateful to have exercised my right to vote, a right that I do not and will never take for granted.
Lucy Cullen is a student at Georgetown University and a fall 2024 intern for The Georgetowner.
