A Vote for Every Version of Me

I was five years old when President Obama was elected, and I remember that day as clearly as if it were yesterday. I remember what I wore to school, what I ate for dinner, and how my parents let me stay up late to see the election results. Our living room looked different back then, but the memory is vivid.

In typical five-year-old fashion, I was upset that I couldn’t vote. My kindergarten class held its election—mostly based on the fun of red vs. blue and elephants vs. donkeys—but that wasn’t enough for me. I knew my parents were heading to the local church to cast their ballots, and I felt ready to decide. After all, I had just learned which colors each candidate represented!

By 4th grade, I had another taste of political involvement. President Obama was running for re-election, and we held another mock election in class. Being the vocal kid I was, I stood in front of the room to tell my classmates how important it was to use our voices—at least in our classroom vote. My parents laughed when I told them later, but I was completely serious. Once again, I wished I could cast a real vote.

In 8th grade, I believed I finally understood what politics meant and how it affected daily life. Looking back, I still had so much to learn, but my history teacher made it all seem clear. He taught us that being a good citizen means understanding candidates' positions and voting. We watched CNN 10 every day, and during an election year, Carl Azuz seemed to talk about nothing but the first Tuesday in November. I cast my ballot in the class election, frustrated once again that I couldn’t go to the polls.

By my senior year of high school, the landscape had changed. COVID-19 meant no in-person classes, and, thankfully, no class election. But I was more politically aware than ever, thanks to the news I was consuming and the classes I was taking. I was just six months shy of being able to vote, and if you thought 8th-grade me was frustrated, you should have seen me then.

I stayed up late watching election results, in our state and across the country. I was a bored yet passionate teenager, deeply invested in the outcome of each race.

Today, I’ve finally cast my first vote in a presidential election. As I left the polling location with my "I Voted" sticker in hand, I couldn’t help but think back on all those phases of my life—the five-year-old who pitched a fit, the politically vocal 4th grader, the history-loving 8th grader glued to CNN 10, and the high school senior frustrated by being just a few months too young. Each of those phases led me here.

Voting isn’t just for me today. It’s for every version of me that wanted so badly to make my voice heard. It’s for all the women who fought relentlessly for the right to vote, and because of them, I can stand here today and cast my ballot with pride and purpose.

This vote carries the weight of those who came before me, shaping the future of those who will come after. I’ve carefully researched each candidate, thinking about the impact their leadership will have on my community, my state, and my country. This moment matters.?

Now, I challenge you: if you’re on the fence about voting, I hear you. Democracy can be messy and frustrating—but that’s why it’s so important. Voting is how we hold our leaders accountable and demand better. It’s our chance to shape the world we want to live in, and that’s worth every bit of effort.

So, do what you can. Go cast your ballot.

If you still need to register to vote, visit vote.gov.

To find your polling place, head to vote.org.

For early voting or Election Day info, check out vote.org's early voting calendar.

To preview your ballot, visit vote.org's ballot information tool.

Need a reminder to vote? Sign up here.

And if you’re like that little five-year-old who stayed up late to watch the election results, pledge to register, so you’re ready to vote as soon as you turn 18.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for letting me stay up late all those years ago. You created a core memory for me—one that makes voting something I’ll always look forward to.