This year, I became a naturalised American citizen. After half a decade of living in the country, subjected to laws I had no say in, I finally have the opportunity to take my opinions with me to the poll station. When the primaries rolled around, I made sure I requested my absentee ballot. I got several voter’s registration cards but no absentee ballot. Consequently, while the rest of my family had the opportunity to vote, I did not.
When we received absentee ballot applications for the November elections, I filled out the paperwork half-heartedly. I waited and waited and waited and my absentee ballot did not come — as I expected. By early October, I had just one day to decide if I would vote in the Nevada elections, instead. I decided to take the plunge.
The Voting Process in Nevada
Nevada gave me no hassle with registering. I printed the application, filled it out and mailed it in on October 4th. I received confirmation that I was officially a registered voter on the same day my Atlanta ballot finally came. I told my mother to shred it. The following Monday, I took a road trip to Las Vegas, met up with Tristan, and drove to the closest polling station.
The line was half very angry-looking White people and half very excited-looking people of colour. Tristan and I were among those laughing, chatting, and taking selfies on what we felt was a big moment. Inside, the workers who assisted us were friendly and everyone wore masks. They didn’t even hassle me over the fact that I was voting in Nevada with a Georgia’s driver’s license.
I had brought my naturalisation paperwork just in case anyone’s inner redneck surfaced, but they never asked for it. The fact that I was registered in the state and had a physical address was proof enough that I had a legitimate right to be there. I received a card and was directed to an unoccupied machine to vote.
The Big Moment
The elections office had told me that because I didn’t have a Nevada driver’s license yet, I would only get the option to vote for the president. Apparently, something updated in the system, because I felt overwhelmed by choices. I had never felt so uninformed as I did staring at the long list of names up for election as judges, mayors, etc. I voted for all positions where democrats were running and abstained from all others.
Nevada also had half a dozen amendment proposals for its constitution that we were asked to vote on. I abstained from the ones that were either over my head or I had no experience with. I voted yes for LGBTQ rights and yes for clean energy initiatives. I then double-checked to ensure I had made no mistakes and submitted my ballot.
At the exit, a lady took my card and gave me a sticker and a pamphlet. “I’m sure you know someone who hasn’t voted yet. Share this with them. Help us get as many people to vote as possible.”
After exiting the area, I remembered that I have two vehicles, after all. Why only accept one sticker? I ran back inside to get another. Both Samson (the FJ Cruiser) and Jasmine (the RV) now have bumper stickers proudly proclaiming that I voted in Sin City.
The Record-Breaking Turnouts
When I called the county election’s office to confirm my registration status, the lady I spoke to told me she had worked in the office for years and had never seen so many people registering. Back in Georgia, voters were setting records there, too. Even young people are registering to vote at unprecedented rates.
In fact, all across America, people are recognising that this is no run-of-the-mill presidential election. This won’t be one of those elections where we laugh about Mitt Romney’s remarks about Elmo or comment on Obama’s suit choices. This election, America’s democracy is at stake.
A man holds office who refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and who has joked that he would like to hold that office for the rest of his life. When asked to condemn White Supremacists, he instead told them to “stand down and standby,” because apparently, there are still good people on both sides.
If America’s social ills are not confronted instead of shushed and healed instead of swept under the rug, we may not have an America left by the end of it all. For these and other reasons, I voted early. Having had a terrible experience with Georgia’s voters’ suppression, I also chose to vote in person.
Haven’t yet registered to vote? Check out Vote.gov. Let your voice be heard while you still can.
Yay!! A great story!! Wow!! And yes, I voted on our second early voting day. I have been helping the local county and the state to send out text msgs to get out the vote. I also talked with my step-daughter. I think the reminder helped her to go ahead and do it safely. I sure hope the democrats win. Georgia and Texas are up for grabs! GO DEMOCRATS!!
This may also be the year we swing Arizona. Biden has been polling ahead of Orange Man for a few months now there. Fingers crossed!
And kudos to you for playing such an active role in getting the vote out.
I moved at a weird time for the elections so I requested my mail in ballot right away and was able to mail it back two weeks ago! You’d think they’d make the process just a little less complicated…
I’m so glad yours came on time. Blue states will always put red states to shame when it comes to voting accessibility.
Voted the week after we were able to here!
That’s great!
So glad you were able to vote!
Thank you! ☺️
Glad to hear that you voted. This election is so important more people need to exercise their right to vote. I voted in person on Saturday, the first day of early voting here in New York. I stood in line for 2 hours but it was worth it. We need a change from this circus.
I see I’m not the only one who went in person, haha. Georgia left a bad taste in my mouth. Here’s to the possibility of change. We did our parts. ☺️
Well done Alexis. If people don’t vote they have no justification to complain about poor government!
Indeed, when this is all over, I don’t want to hear a peep from people who didn’t vote.
Hi. Loved your post, and it is great hear that people seem to take this election seriously. It’s somewhat worrying to hear that there are such differences between states in how opportunities to vote / register are facilitated.
If the federal government had a say in this election, we would have fewer voting opportunities to suit the existing administration. I suppose the ability of states to choose for themselves does offer some protection against tyranny. Unfortunately, red states are well-known for voter suppression.
In any case, your move to another state sounds like it is off to a good start. May it continue so. 🙂
It certainly is. Thank you!
Congratulations, you are more of a citizen than many who have lived here their entire lives! Yep, I voted early with an absentee ballet. Democracy is at stake, and hopefully those record turnouts send a message.
Thank you! I’m hoping the record turnouts are people recognizing how important it is to vote him out.
Congrats. America’s record turn out is 220 Federal Judges, 3 Supreme Court Justices, 1 Pandemic, 1 economic collapse and national civil unrest too late. Better late than never 😊
Power to the people!!!! 😉 I vote by mail. Since I had been in the military, I had to absentee vote and just always did it that way. Where I live now, there is no nearby polling place, so by default, I was made to vote by mail. My state sent mail in ballots to every registered voter because of some people fearing the virus. So you could vote by mail or in person. I voted over a week ago by mail. I’m glad you had a very positive voting experience.
Georgia sent ballot request applications to people automatically. I’m not sure if they do this every year or because of the coronavirus, but the fact that they messed up my chances to vote in the primaries really irked me. My absentee ballot took about 5 or 6 weeks to arrive.
Nevada never sent a ballot request form. Instead, they sent me my actual absentee ballot and the sample ballot within about 2 weeks. It came the day after I voted in person. Big difference compared to Georgia!
I’m glad you were also able to vote early and that you can have more faith in your voting system than I do in Georgia’s. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome. Four more years of this is madness!