Importance of first time voter election participation

 In my Anthropology class my professor spoke about the Election and how it was a time for change because Washington State where I attend university was voting on whether same sex marriage or the legalization of marijuana would be passed. In my residence hall student government (of which I am a member), meeting we were talked about the Electoral College and whether we would use that type of system for our own student government. There was excitement all over campus about the upcoming election.

    As many of my friends were first time voters they were very excited to take part in such an important decision for their country. I remember when my roommate received her ballot in the mail there was so much enthusiasm and emotion. I watched as she carefully read every single letter on the ballot and when it finally got to the “ President section”  she jumped up and screamed “Oh my god this is it!” I was so happy for her because this was literally the biggest day of every eighteen year old or first time voters life, deciding who would be her President.  After filing everything out and placing her ballot in the letter, she called in her mom and said, “Mom I voted!” On Facebook everyone was putting up pictures of them placing their ballots in this huge white box right in the center of campus saying Ballot Drop box here.

   So on the evening of the 6th of November my roommate and I tuned into CNN news in our room. All my friends were huddled all over campus watching the results from the election come in. There were students in different hall lounges watching it, hundreds gathered in the student Compton Union  building watching the results, and every other place a television was located. It was around 5pm our time when the results were coming in people were freaking out.  Mitt Romney was ahead of Barak Obama and I could sense the tension in the dorm as I received texts from friends and people walking by our door. As time went on and the gap between the two candidates was getting closer the intensity was crazy. Fellow dormers walking by were telling my roommate and me that if Obama lost they would move to France, Canada, all over the place.  Finally around 8pm the polls on the West Coast were finally closed. This was the moment everyone was waiting for. These were their votes. CNN announced the projection of Obama winning California and people started screaming. Then Washington’s results came in and Obama had won the State. I could hear cheering echoing through the campus.  My roommate and I jumped up and down with excitement. Then we updated our Facebook statuses saying “4 more years for the 44th president, shout out to the West Coast for bring it home” and other similar status posts.

   I could go on more about the reactions my friends and I had about the results. As a first time voter, I want to encourage my fellow Bermudian young people to take the time to vote. As an eighteen year old  student and a member of the youth, I know that my vote makes a difference and you should know that yours does too. If you can vote then do it, you can make a difference. Exercise your right to vote, the 18 year olds’ right to vote was hard fought for.

    On Monday, December 17th, 2012, I encourage you to go out and vote and make a difference for Bermuda. No matter who wins, the issues will be the same, but you will have had your say by voting. As Rick Mercer said, “Do the unexpected. Take 20 minutes out of your day, do what young people all over the world are dying to do: Vote.”

 sunnangel@ yahoo.com  

• Tiara Webb is the daughter of former PLP Cabinet Minister Renee Webb.