Tuesday, November 8 marked Election Day for the United States. Americans rushed to the polls to attempt to avoid inevitable lines and waiting time. Voters elected their favorite candidates campaigning for president along with state-specific congressmen and amendments. CCSD students enjoyed a day off and qualifying high-schoolers took the chance to vote for the first time.

Getting up early to steer clear of blasé and tedious lines, people near polling areas experienced long lines of traffic and small accidents. “I went to my polling area pretty early. I got there around eight in the morning,” senior Chiara Mancuso said.  

7-Eleven, in encouragement of early morning voting, even offered free coffee to people in an election day cup of their choice.

Many voters experienced less waiting time than expected, like first-time voter, senior Brianna Anderson. “I didn’t wait in line that long at all, maybe for like five minutes at the most,” Anderson said.

Mancuso experienced similar shorter wait times on her first day of voting, unlike many during early voting. “In total, from waiting in line to right after I voted, I was only there for an hour,” Mancuso said.

The influence of television and cinema gave seniors unrealistic expectations for their first times voting, and Anderson noted that “it wasn’t the experience [she] expected.”

Depiction of complexity and difficulty gave students an idea that voting would hold up to those expectations. “The experience overall was a lot simpler than I expected,” Mancuso said.

Regardless, fellow voters created a positive and kind experience for high schoolers. “People were nice and respectful,” Chiara Mancuso said, giving her and other seniors a reason to feel proud in their involvement, “I was excited that I had the opportunity to vote and that I had a voice in this election” Mancuso said.

As the election night progressed and the results shown on televions throughout the country, students expressed joy, anger, and general contentment. “I was very excited to see who won, whether it was my candidate or not,” Anderson said, “It was fun just knowing that my one vote makes a difference.”