Voting: Then & Now

Arriving to my polling station this morning, it would not be my first time voting for a president, but for Joscelyn Figueroa, Spackenkill High School graduate and Marist College student, it would be. And one woman I met at her polling station has been voting for almost as long as women have been able to.

As an immigrant who recently gained citizenship status here, Figueroa was excited to be voting for the first time ever, saying, “Even though my decision was already made before coming here, I’m happy to go out and vote, especially being an immigrant and getting a U.S. citizenship, its important for me to vote,” Figueroa said.

For her, it’s all about standing up for what she believes in, protecting the Latino community and making sure that everyone has a fair opportunity to live in this country. She wants her voice to be heard especially for such a historic election. “It really is a big deal though because the first female president may get elected, even though in other countries there are already female presidents” said Figueroa.

As a young voter myself, it is encouraging to see other young and first-time voters taking time out of their days to recognize the importance of voting. Voters under 40 turn out less often, but maybe this election will be different.

For other voters like Ena Nelson and daughter Beverly Bruley, who came out to vote this morning, their history of voting goes a little further back then some of the first time voters. When Nelson was born in 1919, the president at the time was Woodrow Wilson, the Roaring Twenties would soon begin and World War I had just ended before she was born.

When Nelson was old enough to vote, women had only recently earned the right to do so. Franklin Delano Roosevelt would hold office as the 32nd president for more than three terms, and the Great Depression was still in the future.

Nelson is a lady of few words, partly because she is 97 years old and this morning’s election was enough to wear her out. Nelson’s daughter Beverly Bruley did say her mother is very aware of who is running for president, and who she would like to win, and is excited for the potential to finally see a female president.

Even at 97-years-old, Nelson said she isn’t going anywhere any time soon and is looking forward to more elections to come.