Commentary: First-time voting recollections before heading to the polls

Voting is one of the most important duties you have as a citizen, but not everyone takes advantage of the opportunity. Hoosiers especially consistently rank low in turnout nationally.

So, I decided to reach out and ask the Capital Chronicle’s former interns to tell us about their first voting experience. Maybe it will remind you of your own or encourage non-voters to get out and cast a ballot. Everyone gets a say in this society, so don’t waste your opportunity.

Mia Hilkowitz

“I voted for the first time in fall 2022. Even though I was attending Indiana University Bloomington at the time, I drove the three hours home to vote in my hometown because I wanted to experience of going to the polls and voting in person. I made a whole day of it, going with my childhood best friend to vote — we went for coffee before then took photos with our “I voted” stickers. I loved going in person and getting to see everyone waiting in line, and there was a lot of excitement. What I’ve noticed from going to the polls (and now reporting on elections in the same area) is that many people are just as energized to weigh in on local issues and races as they are governor and presidential races. Every election since, I’ve voted in person and encouraged my friends and families to go vote.”

Madelyn Hanes

“When I turned 18, the thing I was most excited about wasn’t celebrating my birthday or that I was becoming a legal adult. It was voting. As someone who had always been fascinated by government and politics, I had spent years learning about elections, watching debates and talking about the things that shaped our country. But until I turned 18, voting was something I could only watch other people do or hear my family talk about.

That fall, I was taking my high school’s “We the People” government class. My teacher suggested that our class sign up to work the polls, and I immediately volunteered. I thought it would be a great way to experience an election up close, not realizing at the time just how meaningful it would feel to participate in one myself.

That Saturday, I woke up early and headed to the polling place. I was excited to spend the day helping other people vote. But there was another reason I was especially excited. When my shift was over, I would finally get to vote, too. When I walked through the doors, I quickly discovered that I was the youngest poll worker there. Naturally, that became the joke of the day. Everyone knew this wasn’t just another Saturday for me. It was going to be my first time voting.

After my shift ended, I stepped into line with everyone else. I scanned my ID, filled out the paperwork, and waited for my turn. Then, finally, I stood in front of the voting machine. For a moment, I was nervous. I had done my research. I read about the candidates. I had spent years learning about government. But standing there, with the ballot in front of me, I realized how different it was to learn about democracy and actually participate in it.

I was 18. I was still in high school. I certainly didn’t know everything, and there were races on the ballot where I found myself unsure of what I believed. But I also realized that I wasn’t expected to know everything. Voting wasn’t about having every answer. It was about taking the time to learn, making the choices I felt were right for me and allowing my voice to be counted.

So, I made my selections. And then I cast my vote.

The moment itself was surprisingly simple. There were no fireworks or dramatic announcements. But the people around me made sure I knew it was something worth celebrating. The other poll workers clapped for me, and one of them took a picture of me standing next to the voting machine. Then I did something I had been looking forward to for years.  I grabbed one of the “I Voted” stickers and stuck it on my shirt. I remember being so proud of that little sticker.”

Marissa Meador

“My first time voting was in 2020, right as I was turning 18. I was so excited  to finally be a part of the democratic process that I went around at lunch helping other high school seniors register to vote, which was probably very annoying to some of them. I always got a thrill around election season, fascinated by the idea that the future would be shaped depending on what types of people felt inspired to vote and the moment’s most salient issues. I wanted to make sure I was always a small piece of that decision. I cast my ballot early at the church across from my high school in Mooresville, Indiana, after waiting in a very quick line with a friend. And I obviously had to display my “I voted” sticker for the rest of the day. Voting has never felt quite as special, but I’ve made sure not to miss an election since. And while it can be easy to question whether your one vote really matters, all you have to do is look at some of the razor thin margins some Indiana races have had recently. You never know when a race will be close!”

Jack Forrest

“I have a hard time remembering much of anything about the first time I voted. Going early and in person during the 2024 General Election, I stood in line. I went to a booth. I filled in some bubbles. And I turned in a piece of paper. It felt pedestrian, routine even. Like I was at the dentist’s office or taking a standardized test. It was unremarkable, really.