Voting Experience

I am not a citizen in U. S. yet. So, I don’t have chance to vote on this time. But my friend had shared his experience to me.
 The voting is strict and serious in U. S.  So, he supposed to vote carefully. He mail in to vote and he had made a mistake on his ballot this time. Therefore, he took his ballot in to the polling place to get a new one again. He said when you surrender your mail-in ballot, the inspector supposed to write “IN PERSON” next to your name, and supposed to sign the register and then give you a fresh ballot. You give them your spoiled ballot and they write VOID or SPOILED on the ballot in red and then keep it to turn in at the end of the night.
 It is incorrect that the inspector at the polling place kept insisting that you had to vote provisionally. If you are a mail in voter who is surrendering your ballot, you do not have to vote provisionally. You only have to vote provisionally in this case if you do not have your ballot to surrender. You can not to vote twice.
When you vote provisionally, you have to fill out a detailed envelope explaining why you are voting provisionally and sign it. Your ballot is sealed in the envelope and then the registrar later verifies that you were eligible to vote and that your ballot should be counted. Although, I do not have chance but I also excited with my friend on this time his voting. This year, he voted for a black man. If I have chance to vote, I think it is a wonderful experience.

Extra: Voting ’08

This how I felt right after I heard the results of the election:

REAL history has finally been made…

Tonight, I was moved to tears. We’ve UNITED as one and made a change, a word that bears a totally different definition to me. I hope everyone understands that the black vote is not the only vote that allowed President elect Barack Obama to win this election.

As a first time voter, what better election to start with than this? The most historic election in our nation’s history. What first comes to mind are those who have sacrificed for me to be able to cast my vote; all those who have been jailed, beaten or even killed trying to accomplish the simple task of voting as I did today. Of course Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes to mind because President Obama is the dream he preached about many years ago.

I think of how the world is now paying attention, over 78 countries had their eyes on America. I think of our elderly: the 92-year-old lady that voted from an ambulance; the late Madelyn Dunham that was able to early vote for her grandson only weeks before her death; the 106-year-old lady that stood in line for her voice to be heard. We’ve been paying attention. We’ve come together to get the job done.

Some wanted a white man in office, some wanted a black man in office. With President elect Obama, we have both.

Please, don’t worry about his safety. With God on his side, he is protected.

An eloquent speaker, intelligent individual. I am VERY proud of my country. In MY history book, this is America’s greatest accomplishment ever…

And now:

A week later, and I’m still a very happy individual. It’s amazing how times are changing and how racism is still very much alive. I witnessed so many threats via Facebook and Myspace it was unreal. People I thought I knew, I found I really didn’t know at all. This election brought out the true colors of so many of my peers. I was shocked at first, but I had to come to the harsh reality that this is life. People are going to hold their own beliefs, no matter how twisted they may seem. Still, as a nation we need to come together. I am still very proud of this country and, as a first time voter, it was impressive that my voice was heard and I was able to make a difference.

Voting ’08’

The week leading up to the election was when everything started to become exciting for me. There was a Rock the Vote concert where different people performed and I thought that was a cool way to get people interested and excited at the very same time. At the concert they had both candidate’s platforms and policies. Then on Election Day I signed up to go campaigning but at the last minute things did not work out so I didn’t get the chance to do it. Before I came to college my mother and I decided that I should just send in my absentee ballot. So we filled out the papers for my absentee ballot and my mom mailed them to me. When I opened the ballot I realized that this was actually my first time voting and I had never saw what a ballot looked like. I thought maybe some glitter would fall out or it would be a little fancier. But the directions were simple just connect the two lines for the person you want to vote for. I was also surprised that Obama was the first candidate on the list. Luckily I did not have to stand in line to vote but my roommate and friends said they each stood in line for about an hour. They did not complain because it was for a good cause. Later on that evening we went to the UC so we could watch as the votes came in. For a while Obama was behind but once the polls closed on the West Coast and Obama won California I knew that it was over. Everyone got real excited and finally they announced that Obama was the next President of the United States. I could not believe that he really did it. Then when he made his speech it started to sink in. I was really sad because I wish I could have been back home in Chicago so I could have been apart of the celebration. My election experience was filled with a mixture of emotions that I won’t ever forget.  

Voting ’08

Finally, eighteen and able to vote. The last election, I had moments where I wanted to be apart of because I really wanted George Bush out of presidency. This time, he has no choice to leave, and my vote might be the deciding factor between Obama and McCain. For a first time voter, my vote did count. Even though Obama won by a landslide, but my vote has been heard.

Registering to vote was a headache. I decided to register last minute because I did not want to be called for jury duty, but I also did not want to be in this type of crisis either.

I remember when I was in elementary and middle school, I would always see people coming in waiting in long lines just to punch a vote. I thought it was pretty much a waste of time. Now, I that I have grown up voting has more of a meaning to me. November 4rth, 2008 was one the most thrilling days I have ever experienced. On the way to the city poles, I was wondering to myself, ” What if I voted for the wrong person?” and ” Man! I really do not want to stand in line.” The point was that it was worth it. I am one for one on who I wanted to be president.

While waiting in line, I seen various of races. I was surprised that everyone who was in the line waiting with me talked about the election from the end of the line all the way to the poles. I never talked about one subject so long before. One elderly lady said, ” It does not matter who wins, Its who back there words up.” and I thought that was true. Some people just voted for Obama to see history happen, but for me I voted for the better man and who is willing to change. I also seen some  Vietnamese people and friends who never voted, and is their first time too.

After the election me and my friends ask each other who each other voted for. Some of my friends made very good arguments who they chose McCain instead of Obama. Of course I had to disagree at some pointbecause I wanted to represent my candidate. At the end of the controversy, I quoted the wise saying from the lady I stood next to in line and told my friends. ” It does not matter who wins, its who back up there words.” Its all polictics to me.

This election has not started off with the best foot. There been online threats to people who supported Obama on myspace and facebook. Also racism is already has begun or beginning. Somebody in my class said, ” If he did something wrong or made a bad decision, people will blame it on his race.” Why does everything as to do with race? Thats why I think racism will never go away because of the ignorancy, but it does not matter now because Obama is our president. We should support him instead of down grading and remind me that we need a change.

V0TiNG [EXTRA]

This year was the first year that I was of age to vote which is so funny because this is also one of the most historical elections so far. I remember tracking the election a year ago in my AP Government Class. Our assignment was to track four candidates, two from the Democratic party and two from the Republican. I chose Obama, Clinton, Ron Paul, and McCain. I don’t really remember my reasoning but I was very interested in what each politician had to say. Each week we had to research at least two topics and write their views on each, report their progress on at least two polls, and submit a political cartoon. This project lasted a whole semester so that by the time we turned the project in, we were all something like experts on our chosen politicians. If I wasn’t interested in politics before, I definitely didn’t have a choice then. I really value this project because it forced those of us who could vote (it was a senior class) to take an interest in the election, even if it was forced. Not only did this project give me an interest in the election, but it also stemmed my excitement and pride in actually being able to participate.

            When I first began my research on the election, Obama interested me not only because of his skin color but also because his view points were about immediate action. I think that as a Democrat white or black, Obama’s viewpoints would reflect things that are important to the African American people but to actually be able to vote for someone who looks like me is definitely something worth reflection. At first I had my doubts. I didn’t doubt Obama and his integrity but I did doubt that of America. I knew for a fact that there was no way America would allow an African American to lead the country. How I underestimated my country! I feel like this election is about more than the progression of African Americans but about our progression as a country. In case anyone is having problems with their calculations, the United States is predominantly Caucasian. There is no way that Obama would have won by the African American vote alone which that in spite of the views that America is still racist, etc. There are actually people in this country who can look past skin color and see character. To me that is the most beautiful thing about this election.

            I don’t really have much to say about the lines and the moment he was actually named our president-elect because to me, those points were miniscule in comparison to things that happened before this was even possible. This country went from denying African Americans the right to vote to actually electing one to be President. I stood in line for two hours but I can’t complain because I would have stayed in that line the entire day if only to place that “X” beside Barack Obama’s name. God Bless Obama. God Bless America!

Extra: Voting “08”

I always knew what it was like vote because I used to go into the ballots with my mother, but I never knew what it was like to vote on my own. I always wanted to go in an push the little buttons myself, but I was not older enough. Now that I’m eighteen years of age I now have the right to vote. It seemed easy when I went with my mother but I had to go through almost everything my first year just so that I could push a button. It was like hell. At first I thought I wasn’t going to be able to vote because I didn’t receive my card when I registered in high school, then I re-registered in the University Center at school and it took forever for me to receive my card. A week later I got a card but it wasn’t the one I needed and the time was approaching to vote. I began to give up and say I wasn’t voting, but my dad told me that’s what they want young people like me to do give up so easy. But, when I registered, I used my dad’s address and my I.D. has my mother address on it. Everyone was telling me I had to change it and have the same address. I now was about to go crazy. All this just to push a button. I told my mother I was going to change it, but I never did I just waited to see what the card was going to look like. So I waited anxiously for my voting card and I thought it wouldn’t come. Finally, my dad told me it was lieing on the bed when I came home. I was excited, and the address had my mother’s address on it which was the same as my I.D., now I was over excited and ready to vote. The big day arrived and I was anxious. I got out of class early and headed straight there. The lines were crazy but after all I went through I wasn’t about to turn around. So I waited, listen to a couple of older ladies talking about making history,, and just waited for my turn. I now was at the front of the line and ready, but when I got there the lady told me my name wasn’t on the list. Now I was upset. I checked over her to make sure it wasn’t a mistake, but it was true my name wasn’t on there. Now I didn’t know what to do or where to go, but I couldn’t leave without an answer but they didn’t know anything and all the phone lines for the hotlines were busy. So, I left and didn’t bother about voting I didn’t care anymore. I told my mother when she got home and she was upset. Since she can’t vote she wanted to make sure I voted for her, so she went back with me. After all that time of waiting and standing there when I got back the lady told me to call a number and when she saw it was constantly busy she told me to fill out a little pink form and then go vote. I was highly upset because I could have done that the first time when she saw I was at the correct place to vote.

My first and best voting experience

It was 4:30 am when I woke up on November 4, 2008. I looked out the window and still saw darkness from the night before. Thirty minutes later, I was in front of the University Center waiting for the polls to open at 6 am. It was already 10 people ahead of us but we knew it would be worth the wait. Soon after, more people came and the line grew longer. Everyone was anxious especially since it was cold outside, but I came prepared with my blanket. By the time 5:55 hit, the sun became to rise as we waited for the doors to open. When 6:00 hit the security guard opened the doors and everyone darted up three flights of stairs in order to be the first ones to vote.

Even though we were out of the cold, we still had to wait for a while. The elderly people were complaining about standing in line, so some were allowed to go ahead of us.Of course, XU students protest especially since the elderly were extremely rude by saying, “We’re more important than you”. And on top of all of that, many XU students were arguing with one of another about who cut who in line. The people in charge of the polls threatened to kick out some people out of line because of all the confusion going on. But in the back of my mind, I was thinking wow all of this confusion between people just to vote.

Finally, it was my turn to vote. When I stepped into the booth I was nervous but I clicked my choice and then I frowned because I forgot I had to vote for numerous other things that I had no clue about. Then the lady told me I had a minute in a half to finish my choices so I was rushing. When I left the building I saw the line stretched down the three flights of stairs and all the way the University Center. I was so glad I had woke up early enough to avoid waiting in line.

Later that night, I was watching CNN, waiting to hear the results of the election. I was doing laundry so I was in and out of the room. Then I looked at the screen and it said “BARACK OBAMA THE NEW PRESIDENT”. My heart started beating fast because I didn’t think it was true at first. But then reality set in, it was true. Me and my friend started screaming and calling everyone. It made me proud that my vote counted towards something historical in this country. I helped elected the first black president of the United States. I have something to tell my grandkids about that I thought would never happen in my lifetime. Now, I think anyone can do anything. Obama’s win shows me that nothing can hold you back, and let’s not forget NO ONE can hold you back from acheiving something that seems out of reach.

I AM PROUD TO HAVE BARACK OBAMA AS MY NEW PRESIDENT!

Voting/ Extra

The 2008 presidential election was very exciting. Every where I went people of all races were talking about the election. It was the main conversation every one was having no matter where they were. Some of my friends and I was so excited we can finally vote. We were happy that we were making a part of history. Sometime in September a local radio station came to Xavier to let some students tell their views on the election. The day before the election channel four news came to Xavier, Loyal, and Tulane to talk about the election. I was on the news talking about the election. I said a lot but they only showed my Obama pin I was wearing and me saying we need a change. A lot of my friends said they were going to go to the polls at five thirty in the morning. I said I’m not getting up that early to go vote because I’m going to be tried and it’s to cold out there. My grandmother said she was going at nine o’ clock. My brother took my grandmother to vote at a local school while he went vote at a local church. My sister and my boyfriend came down here from Southeastern to vote. My sister missed her class and my boyfriend’s class was cancelled. Its was my boyfriend and also my first time voting so we went vote together.  My mother came with us also. We voted at a local church also but not the same church my brother went to. After voting everyone went there separate ways. I had to go to school for a class. My sister, my grandmother, my brother, my mother, a lot of my cousins, aunts, my boyfriend, and me went to my grandmother house and had a Bar B Que. When they announced Barrack Obama was our new president we all started jumping up and down screaming like we were crazy. My brother, some cousins, and my boyfriend went out and popped fire crackers. While they were out there most of the people who were inside were crying. Some of my cousins and I was inside dancing off bounce music. Bounce music is a type of music that is only found in New Orleans. Its mostly music that is mixed with a beat that was made. Some of it are regular songs with a faster beat. We was dancing off a song that Sissy Nobby made. He is one of the most famous bounce song mixers. We were having so much fun. I was standing on the sofa dancing and my boyfriend came inside and began to laugh at me. Than he began to dance with me. We all stopped and calmed down so we can listen to his speech. My mother began to cry loudly which made us jump. When he finished we all went outside and began second lining. They had this man that began to say bad thing about Obama. One of the other people who lived on the street punched the man in his face. Nobody called the cops because they didn’t care because he was wrong for what he said. While they were fighting we began to party some more. That was the first time my family has gotten along in a very long time.

  Today I have only one word on my mind, the name of the one person who has brought a higher standard to not only my life but the lives of all blacks, whites, men and women of America, Obama. Barack Obama has set a new standard for America by showing everyone that one can be anything in this World that he or she desires if they only work hard at them. My participation in this election will prove to be very significant in my life. It reminds me of the story Mrs. Rodriguez told us about her daughters first time voting. I had registered to vote in Tennessee before I had graduated high school and when I got to New Orleans I never took the time to reregister. I assumed that since I had registered in Memphis I did not need to register again. So a week and a half before the election Dr. Carmichael informed me that since I did not register in New Orleans and since the deadline had past I would have to return home to vote or not vote at all. So that weekend I packed a bag and my roommate and I traveled that six hour trek back to Memphis so that I would be able to vote during Tennessee’s early voting days. I expected it to be a really big deal but when it all came down to the actual voting, after two hours of waiting outside then another thirty waiting inside to get officially registered and escorted to the poll, it was not as spectacular as I thought it would be. I walked out of the polls content am happy that I had been able to participate in what will be the most controversial and most important election of my lifetime. This election, more so Obama himself, has made me realize one thing and that is that President-elect Obama has done the one thing that he is obligated to for the Blacks in society. He has merely allowed blacks, men especially, that there is nothing in this world that is not achievable. I think that some blacks might take it too far by wanting Obama to play more of the savior type role for them and them alone relative to others in American society. Whereas I feel as though Obama should not single out any single group, sexual or racial, but rather he should spend the majority of his time as president fixing the economic crisis and warfare of our country. Blacks often go for the easy way out and I can say this because I see this in my daily life with my friends, my family and myself as well. Not to try to disrespect my black Americans at all but I just feel that Barack Obama’s presidency should be used as a way to better our society as a whole and to somewhat lessen the extent of racism and injustice. In closing I would like to add that Obama’s candidacy and victory in the election will forever exists as a Roosevelt type president. He is the man who is about to bring the change that our civilization tremendously needs.

Extra: Voting 08′ Obama

Shocked, rejoiceful, astonished, disbelief and powerful is what I felt as the number on my television screen showing the electoral votes for Barack Obama went to 384, and John McCain votes 184 even though McCain had won over Louisiana he did not win over the hearts and minds of individuals of America, all of America knew we needed a change. My heart raced as I jumped up out of my bed running down the halls hugging the girls on my hall and yelling “change is what we have now.” As I looked out my window the streets were filled with the students of Xavier and the neighbors of New Orleans, all celebrating and still in a state of shock and disbelief. My mind was exploding with the many ideas and changes that Obama has promised to do for our country. As I watch the cameras showing the reactions of the thousands of people back in my home town Chicago, IL I began to hope that Obama will make a difference and change in the country, which has been long due. I felt powerful and important when Obama stood up to deliver his speech not only to Chicago, but to the country, the world. I knew that my one vote had made a difference, made a change in our world; it had been my first time being able to vote and my one vote lead to a change in the United States of America. The three hour wait in line was worth the history we made on November fourth. I remember waking up that morning at 5:30m believing that there would be no line, as I walked outside of my dorm the line to go into the UC where the voting booths were set up approached the entrance to KD doors, me and my friends were shocked. As the doors opened the residence went to the left which was the downstairs part and the students went up the stairs to the third floor, the line zig zagged around the stairs all the way back down to the first floor again. I as an African American was so proud to see fellow people of my race, young, old, all sizes and even the “thugs” to come out and make a change in our world. I remember talking to my cousins the night before asking them if they were going to vote and their responds was of course and if they didn’t they needed to be shot, this had been their first time voting even though for the past 12yrs they were old enough to vote but this time they felt there vote would make a difference that they could actually make a difference in the world. I even remember talking to my grandmother as she explained her experience of voting that morning, how her church had shuttle buses taking the elderly to voting sites. This will be a time in history and a mile stone in my life that will never be forgotten it will always be embedded into my head.

 

Courtney McCalin

Voting for change!!!!

On November 4, 2008 I was awaken at 7:42 by the sound of my ringing phone. On the other line was my mother and brother. They were back home standing in line to vote. My Mother wanted my assurance that I planned to vote. I assured her that there was nothing that could stop me from voting and that i was on my way. After getting ready that morning, I walked down to the U.C.. I was very excited to be amongst the people voting for change. The country has been in a downward spiral for the last eight years with a lack of leadership. I knew that If I wanted to change something then my voice had to be heard. As I walked into the U.C. I could feel the excitement in the atmosphere. The line to vote on the third floor of the uc was all the way down to the first floor using the stairs. I was abit taken aback by the vast amount of people. At the same time I was very excited about the possibility that change might occur. I walked to the end of the line and recognized one of my friends. We chatted abit about what was going on. Then, in my curious state, I wondered what the line looked like upstairs. I took the elevator up to the third floor and I was shocked and proud at the same time. Their were a few hundred young faces just like me waiting in line to vote. I talked to a few friends of mine and the told me they had been waiting since 5:30 and 6 that morning. At the time I asked it was about 8:15. I was amazed at that time. I then went back downstairs. When I got back downstairs i realized that the line had gone. At that time I raced up the stairs to the third floor.  Wondering what happened to the line my question was answered upon arrival. The commissioners had made the line form a zig zag on the third floor. They were able to fit more people on the floor by doing so. As I stood in line waiting for it to move, I started wondering what was on everyones minds. The faces on people were one of tired anxiety. This was history and we all knew it. For the first time in our lives we had the power to make a major difference in our lives. This was the first time many of us were able to vote in a presidential election. Not only was it some of our first time voting, we also had the opportunity to vote for someone who looked like us. This person was also somebody who believed the same things we did about the future of our country. The line was very slow moving. I saw people playing games on their phones, listening to mp3’s, and just talking to the people around them. Some of these people were ones that they would not have contact with on a normal everyday basis. Where I was in line I met a pharmacy student studying for a major test she had that day while standing in line. After standing in line for about an hour or so, The commissioner announced that he had split the line alphabetically. Now that there were two lines the pace picked up substantially. After standing in line about another hour and a half. I had finally reached the check in desk. I was nervous and excited at the same time. After being signed in I walked into the voting booth and cast my vote. After I stepped out of the booth, I smiled. I had done my part to make a difference. The total time took two hours and forty five minutes.  As i was looking at my watch I realized I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Voting for the first time =]

Wow….the year 2008 so far has been filled with so much excitement. I became a senior in high school. I graduated High school with a BA and honors. I was accepted to Xavier among other Universities. I thought this year would never come. I turned the big 18 =] Then since my birthday is in March I most definitely voted in the primaries.

Voting in the primaries was quite an experience. It was confusing, my name wasn’t on the list. I had to fill out an absentee ballot. I had to hand write all of my choice and such. I was sad. My fantasy of the inside of a voting booth was still a mystery. But I still made a difference and I was proud. Then Obama won the election. That too was a monumental even this year.

Then we got to college and we are seeing the conventions and campaign commercials and for me there was no guess work. I was an Obama supporter from day one. I met a couple of people, black people who didn’t support Obama. I was flabbergasted! What were they thinking? Well, I found out that they were brain washed. She  believed that the civil rights movement was about black people wanting what the whit people had and not about what they deserved. I thought she was crazy. She got mad because said I felt like it was my civic duty to vote because my ancestors fought for that right. She rebutted with he comment that black people wanted to vote because the white people did. I was disgusted. The wanted to vote because it was their right. They were considered a fraction of a person and it took [I’m not sure exactly] 5 black votes to equal 1 vote and that was if they ballots weren’t destroyed.

I feel like people like her have no sense pf history but back to election day. So i wake up so early and stand in the voting line. We were standing for ever. I sat on the floor and napped, on the table and in chairs. I was very sleepy. By in the end I was still excited because I knew Obama would win. You want to know why? Because his grandmother died before the election and that let me know that God brought her home with he peace that her grand child was going to win the election. It may sound foolish but that is me and my assumption was right. Thank God.

That night we all sat in the boys lobby and watched as each state closed the polls. It was so suspenseful. It was funny because a person from a state that went republican would not tell anybody where they were from. I new Pennsylvania wouldn’t let me down. I was not surprised my Louisiana’s decision. Honestly I knew that McCain was going to lose. BUT the magnitude of his loss blew my opinion to pieces. America really wanted a change and knew that Obama was the man for the job.

When his face popped up as President elect!!!!! We jumped and ran outside and called everybody. Then we partied like rock-stars in the UC. It was amazing and I am so happy to have taken part in this historical event.

Election 08

My voting experience was pretty exciting.  This is because this is the first election that I ever had a chance to vote in and also it was an election that would change history.  I remembered when i was doing an essay about each candidates in my high school civics class.  I found a lot of pros and cons about each candidate and i chose the one that i defended most for.  Of course, I can’t share who i voted for but lets just say that my pick changed history for everyone.  Once i stepped into the voting booth, I was caught by surprise the feeling that over came me. It was then i realized that I was able to vote for the next leader of the United States.  The adrenaline rush was intense because i never walked into or stepped near a voting booth until that voting day.  The line was very long and i was pretty exhausted after a long day of school.  I waited for my parents to get off work so that i could go and vote with them.  It was kind of funny because whenever we got to the area to vote, i felt like a little kid again.  I looked around at everyone seeing what they were doing and house excited or nervous they were.  I kept turning my head side to side trying to see where to vote and such.  One thing that i found quite entertaining was when I over heard two voters arguing about the issues between McCain and Obama and they began to make a scene when security had to come out and calm both of them down. 

When i got home i checked my myspace and then i saw that i had new friend requests.  These friend requests were from people who made pages to advertise to vote for Obama and McCain.  It surprised me how a lot of voters show that much support for their candidate.  This has to be by far the most serious election that ever occured because i never recieved stuff like that on my myspace during the Bush election.  I was amazed about how my friends were strong about supporting their candidates.  Even when we went out to go fishing they would still argue and have a whole debate about the negatives about Obama and McCain.  My friend, who’s voted before, told me that after the first time of voting it doesn’t feel to same way when it comes time for the next presidential election you are able to vote in and he didn’t really make a big deal about this election because he believes that either way politics are always corrupted in some way.  But the thing he really liked was that there was a change about the candidates and it wasn’t just two white men running for President.  I have a feeling that even though he told me it is not as exciting voting for the second time than the first, i think i will still catch the adrenaline rush that i had the first time i stepped into the voting booth and casted my ballot.

Voting! ’08!! finally!

Finally, eighteen years old and I’m able to vote. For the past two elections, I have had moments where I wish I could vote just because I want an input on who could become the next president, but this time, for my very first time I got to vote for a winner, Barack Obama who is our new President.

I was filled with joy and anxiety that I was able to vote and while walking in the booth at the elementary school near my house, I had a flashback moment when I was a kid and I saw older people walking in and out of the school and I asked my mom what was going on and she told me “Its Election Day, people are going to vote to see who the new President is.” Being so young, I never realized what an amazing feeling it is to vote. The whole time I thought to myself, “Man what if I vote for the wrong person, that’d be so dumb of me.” and “Wow, the lines are long…REALLY long” (This was mid-day when I had a break and I drove home to vote on the Westbank). The main point is, I was able to vote without any errors, and my vote went to the winner which makes me really happy because I am now “1-0” on voting for a president.

The whole time I was waiting in line, I was amazed at the numbers of people flowing in and out just to vote. Before, I went with my mom and dad to vote once and it didn’t have that many people compared to this time around. I saw my old teachers that never voted before voting, I saw Vietnamese people from my community that never voted before voting, and it amazes me how an election with a candidate that can change how people are from not taking the time to vote to taking time out of their day to vote.

The only problem I had with this election compared to the others were viewpoints people had. I voted for Obama and a friend of mine voted for McCain, but she was really strong about McCain and what he could do, but at the same time I am strong for what Obama can do, and when she found out I was voting for Obama she attacked me politically like no other. To be honest she kept talking and talking to try and convince me, but to be honest I was strong on who I wanted and that won’t change a bit.

Another thing I see a lot this election is that people are getting online threats and such on facebook where they have anti-Obama cases. People are threatening others and attacking others based on their political choice, which is very childish because we shouldn’t be attacking each other, but accepting the fact that our new President has been chosen and we should back him 100%, that way we can have a unified country instead of a divided one. Hopefully our new President lives up to what he says he’ll do and save our country from the economic crisis we’re having.

Not my election/voting experience…

If you know me then you know why I cannot tell about my election/voting experience. Once again, it’s because I’m not old enough to vote. I also chose not to be a part of the election in any way. But let’s skip the sob story about how I was not a part of the HISTORY that took place… =(

My roommate voted. She was excited about voting for the first time and being a part of this HISTORIC (tear) event… until she got there.

She woke up at 5:00 a.m. so that she could avoid the lines and get in and get out. That’s how she planned for it to go but that is in no way how it went. It turned out that everyone had the same idea: get up early, avoid the lines, get in get out, etc. The line was EXTREMELY long. Voting was on the third floor of the University Center. By the time she got outside, the line was to the front doors of Katherine Drexel Hall. It didn’t take much longer for line to get to the corner, not the corner closest to the UC but the corner closest to the administration building. She was tired and knew she had to stay awake in her classes later on but, she got in line. By the time she got to the third floor, it was about 6:30. She got excited again… but that was before they started letting all of the “elderly” get in front of them. The original plan was for them to be on the first floor and for the students to be on the third. I don’t know what happened to that but I’m assuming things just got a little overcrowded. I’m not sure. This took about another hour and 15 minutes.

My roommate says that after this she had to stand in a line to see if her name was registered on the computer… it wasn’t. Then she had to go stand in another line to see if her name was registered in a book… it was. She was finally able to vote. She got back to the room at about 8:30, 9:00.

She says that the actually casting of her ballot was fine. It was the whole line situation that really got to her. She says it was just too much. By the time she was through she was annoyed and tired. What made it worse was that she had to come back to the room and get ready for class. She still had to study and finish preparing for her 10:00 class. It was exhausting. She says that it wasn’t that bad but still, she will never vote again. I want to say that she’s kidding but, her face looks as serious as a heart attack right now. I believe her, I’m afraid.

Then again, every once and a while when it’s real quiet she’ll tell me how she can’t believe she voted and “let her voice be heard” and goes on to say how liberating it was. Then she erupts in laughter…. (tear) =(

I’M A VOTER HEAR ME ROAR!!!

I remember being a little girl and going with my mother when she went to vote. It was always an exciting time in my community. People would be down the street with signs, cheering you on to make what they considered the right decision. I loved going with my mother to see all the people and feel the energy. So when I started working at a civil right museum back home, it became even more important to me. This election was the most historic election yet, and I feel like it was an honor and a privilege to be able to participate in such a momentous movement. I voted absentee ballot. In addition, even though my candidate did not win my home state of Alabama, he was victorious over all. I was so shocked amazed! The 44th president of the United States is a biracial man. I never thought I would see it in my life! However, it happened. It was awesome to see Barack Obama’s name on the ballot. I really did not pay much attention to everything else on the ballot. I never knew what people were always talking about after elections, about the joy they felt because their voices were heard. But this one was different, it was special. America was ready for a change and we were heard, loud and strong. I am very proud of my America. All I can say is, it was about time. We are united as a people right about now. There should not be any excuses for anyone anymore. I feel that anything is possible for anyone.

extra credit: i helped make history! WE DID IT!!!!

My voting experience this year was very new. This is because on November 4, 2008 I voted for the first time ever. My excitment that day could not even properly be described…I don’t know, I was just so so so happy that I was going to cast MY vote for someone who actually looks like me and came from the same roots as my family my ancestors, my people;the very first African American President of the United States of America . The very same United States where for over two hundred years my people were tortured, raped, battered and bruised, taken away from their families, humiliated, and murdered; enslaved in a black “hellacaust” because of the color of their skin. The very same United States that treated my people worse than the dirt on the bottom of it’s shoes not even 60 years ago. I dont know about anybody else but I was overwhelmed with emotion standing in line last week; I almost started crying in the voting booth.

When I first saw the lines I thought to myself that this was gonna take FOREVER but it’s gonna be sooooo worth it when I’m watching the updates later that same day and Barack Obama wins the election. The lines were super-long but I was determined to let my voice be heard. I had been doing my own personal campaigning for Obama since he announced that he would run, and I’ll be ding dang darn if I didn’t vote on November 4th. I ended up waiting in line for a total of about two and a half hours which wasn’t bad compared to the people who got to the polls earlier than I did.

I think that the environment was of a proud sort. It was mainly young African American individuals waiting in line with me, with very few elderly, which by the way was part of the reason why I almost cried. I personally thought that in that beautiful age, for these elderly African Americans, in their wheelchairs, to be able to see the first black president be elected after all that they have endured and experienced throughout their lives in America. It touched my heart that they would live to see this wonderful day in history. As I was saying, I think that all of the yound people waiting in line shared the same sense of pride, excitement, and emotion as I did. We all just had our own way of showing it. Some of us were smiling from ear to ear the whole wait (even in these long lines), some people were yelling “I’m about to make history y’all”, and some people just reflected on what their relatives and ancestors went through being black in America, or what they themselves experienced in their lives.

I personally didn’t see any signs of voter suppression. In fact, I witnessesed the exact opposite. For example, before I got to the UC to vote, random people I didn’t know were coming up to me one by one asking me if I was voting or saying that if I was registered then I had no excuse and that I needed to vote. I was proud of the fact that everybody just jumped out of their own skin and out of there comfort zone to encourage others to let their voices be heard. I took pride in my “new” community.

Later that night I was so happy when I saw the results on television as most of the students in my dorm and other dorms that night were. I thanked God and screamed and jumped and just celebrated. All you could hear after that announcement was screams and cheers from all floors of the building. I ran out into the hallway and gave everyone hugs and jumped for joy and screamed and yelled and ran out with my Obama poster into the streets with everyone. After that, it was O.V. (it means over). All of the students and neighborhood people were out in the streets as happy as ever. The UC was hype, the dorms were jumpin, and it was poppin in the streets. We all had one huge block party in front of my dorm (the LLC) for hours that night. Everybody just dropped what they were doing to go sing, dance, and just celebrate our victory in the street.

The voting, the waiting and anticipation, the result, the celebration, and the feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood that day had to have been the most exciting, emotional, and proud moment that I have ever experienced. I thank God for blessing me, my people, and America with that day. The day that assured the world that the gift of hope is still alive in people today no matter how hard or how many times one is kicked to the ground. There is always hope.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BARACK OBAMA, TO AMERICA, AND TO MY PEOPLE. WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

Extra: Voting ’08

I loved voting in this election. For one it was the first time that an African-American had a viable chance at getting into office, which amazed me beyond words. It was my first presidential and needless to say I really got into it. I would sit down and watch the debates, look up what the candidates stood for and really just involves myself in this election. There would be times that I would watch these television shows that would analyze the candidates and there running mates which in turn gave me an even greater insight on how I should vote in this election. Because even though I had a strong feeling I was going to vote Obama over Clinton, I wanted to know more on what each stood for. When it came time to elect the president I already knew who I stood behind. It was interesting on who my older sister stood behind during the nominations because she wanted to vote Obama but had worked closely with the Clinton administration. So she had to be neutral and look at each of the candidates stands side by side and she made her decision that way. The line I stood in for to vote between Obama and McCain was awkward because I seemed to be the only one that was voting for Obama. Everyone in the line looked at me as if I was insignificant and astronomically different from them. The people that actually seemed happy to see me there were the ladies working the polls, because I was a young, black male that was exercising his right to vote. 

During election night I had this weird feeling like I was watching my favorite team play for the championship. I felt as if every state won was like points being scored. And when Obama got to 220 electorial votes I was thinking that I hope that he does not let McCain back into this race. But when I realized that he had won Virginia I was certain he was going to win. Because there was still California to go which is a democratic state with 55 votes. Once they announced Obama as the winner, I was in a state of shock. My older sister was on the verge of tears because she thought how we as African-Americans have progressed. Furthermore, the fact that I was able to be part of one of the biggest, if not the biggest piece of American history, fills me with this sense of pride that is unmeasurable.

I went to school in Lafayette, Louisana and the people there are very conservative some are even openly racist. But there where others that after Obama was elected they showed a truly ignorant side of themselves. They were calling him the definition of affirmative action, they said that the election was “nigger rigged,” that they wanted to leave the country and so forth. So thanks to the election I was also able to but into perspective who my real friends are and even who I see as someone worthy of calling a fellow American.

Extra Credit

Wow… this year was an amazing experience for me. It was my first time voting and it was incredible. I was not just voting to vote, I was a past of history. Barack Obama is the first African-American president in the greatest country in the world. The experience was one of empowerment and encouragement. I woke up at four thirty in the morning on that Tuesday. I woke up… hopped in the shower… and got dressed. I didn’t just throw on some basketball shorts and a shirt. I dressed up on that Tuesday!! I had heels on and everything! It was a special day! And my roommate made me and my friends dress up for Obama! And I wasn’t about to complain about this! So we finally made it in line around five thirty. I stood there… quite chilly…but warmth was the last thing on my mind. I called my mom all the way in Memphis, TN and told her that her baby was about to vote for change. She started crying!! It was funny. My mother was so proud of me. But she was also encourged by the enthusiasm that I and the country had shown for Barack Obama. My mother was young when the civil rights movement was taking place. She was young, but old enough to understand what was going on. And it was a special movement in her to see Martin Luther King and other fight for change, and to now see that change starting to take place. I also called my brother and told him he better vote this year. He didn’t vote the first time, but me, even though I’m younger than him, called him and told him he better not miss an opportunity to make history. That Tuesdy was not the day to be lazy.

My friends and I stood in that line for three hours. But we didn’t complain one bit. And when I finally got to the front of the line and I saw my name on that sheet of paper as eligible to register… I was so excited. I made my way to the poll booth and selected the best choice for America! Barack Obama is going to change this country. We are already deep enough in a bunch of mess. He is going to bring us out of our economic and social disfunction. It is time for change! And I was a part of that!

That Tuesday night… I will never ever forget that night! Lord knows it was crzy outside of The Living and Learning Center. I had never seen black people so excited about politics! Everyone was outside bumpin’ Young Jeezy… “MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK!!!” It was so fun and special to see people that look like me excited about something such as the condition of our country. Whether they were happy that we had a black president or because the best qualified won the election, I enjoyed witnessing such enthusiasm and celebration as what took place that night. I mean… I haven’t been to the club in a long time… but I may as well say I was at CLUB LLC that Tuesdy night!!! It was so fun and I am so happy to have been a part of change! I am going to support Obama throughout because he is making a difference. He is taking away the excuses that black people tend to make for themselves. We can’t sit on our butts anymore and say we can’t succeed. A BLACK MAN IS THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!! You can’t tell me that black people can’t make it! Therefore, we no longer can make excuses for ourselves… Obama has crushed all of that! And I’m happy about it! It’s bout time! OBAMA YALL!!!!!

Extra: Voting 2008

The culmination of the 2008 presidential election is coming to an end, who will be the next president of the United States. Today voters of all ages come together as one and take an active role in securing the nations future. I am proud to say I participated in this historical event. My experience this year has been phenomenal because it’s the first time I actually get to vote. The anticipation leading up election was almost unbearable. My feeling towards voting for the first time was excited and nervous. The lines were quite long but it didn’t bother me I’m willing to wait. I was making one of the most important decisions in my political career. I believe both candidates had very good arguments to make but it clear to me that senator Barack Obama is representing my voice. We have all heard about the financial crisis, which hasn’t really affected us yet but it will in the not so distant future. I personally think Obama-Biden will help us thought this fiscal crisis. I don‘t see myself voting to McCain because he keeping all the policies that is apparently not working. He said “I support president Bush policies”. I definitely don’t want another lack luster president in office.

The media has definitely given a whole new meaning to the words “Full Coverage.” This presidential election has to be the top story covered by the media within the last year. I firmly believe that media definitely manipulated this particular election in their favor. They made it out to seem as though it was a race war, which honestly is not it just another ploy to make money. I personally think that it ruins the whole voting experience because both candidates obvious been putting their heart and soul into this election for the past two years. It would be ashamed if they got their images tarnished because of something they did in high school. The candidates were being watched under a microscope, if they have any blemishes in their past, the media is going to benefit. I just think that wrong. All the negative mudslinging is out in the open, it now up the citizen to make their decision.

I talked to several of my peers, asking them which candidate they going to vote for and all they could tell me is “It’s a time for change.” I believe senator Obama “Its time for change” slogan was ingenious. Throughout the presidential election Obama spoke about youth taking a stand, and voting. He made it clear that their will be change if he is elected president. Being true to his word becoming the first African American president and having the most youth turnout since the 1920’s. For the first time I feel real independent, in making my own decision. It feel great to have a president with the same views and morals. I believe that president Obama is very inspirational, to all minority because he showed us that anything is possible, through hard work and determination.

Have your voice heard – VOTE!

Make sure that you are an active participant in the most historical election of America’s history. For most of you, this is the first presidential election that you will be voting in – what a great time to claim your first voting experience!

If you’re not yet registered to vote, the Xavier Herald is sponsoring a voter registration drive from 9AM until 2PM Tuesday on the first floor of the UC.  If you are registered in your home town and have not yet completed the process for an absentee ballot, you can register to vote here so that you can walk into Xavier’s polls on election day.

EVERY VOICE COUNTS – MAKE YOURS HEARD!!