Syracuse Voter Casts Vote for Next Generation of Americans

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (DIA) – Voters were up bright and early this morning at Blessed Sacrament School in Syracuse. As voters exited the gym, they were greeted by a fellow voter by the name of Deborah Mack with a simple, but kind message.

“Thanks for voting,” Mack said.

Mack has been voting since she was 18, and has voted in person every year that she’s participated in the election. Now as she gets older, Mack especially appreciates the chance to vote in person since it gives her the opportunity to interact with other members of her community.

“I like to come out,” Mack exclaimed. “I don’t do the mail in thing cause I don’t get to meet people, run into people, and I don’t get hugs. So I come out.”

This year was a little bit different for Mack however. Over the last three weeks prior to Election Day, Mack had been dealing with health issues that have kept her home more often than normal. Her health, however, was not the reason she planned to sit out of this year’s midterm election. Instead, the political tensions between both major parties in the U.S. were dragging her away from casting a vote.

“This is the first time I’ve ever gone into an election not knowing who to vote for,” Mack said. “A couple of weeks ago I said it’s wasting my time to vote. Why should I vote? They bickering back and forth and attacking each other now, so what’s going to happen when they do get into office?”

Although this mindset had sat with her for the multiple weeks prior to the election, Mack’s took on a different mindset as to why she should vote this year. She voted to support the next generation of US citizens.

“To make a difference somewhere down the line. It may not be in our generation, but it might work out in the next generation coming up,” Mack said. “I’m from the old school. This the new generation and we have to make sure that they have a way that is secure for them. Then they got pick it up and carry on.”

As she casted her vote even after being doubtful of doing so for so long before, she knew it was the right decision to participate in the election rather than not. Now, as she participates at her age, she’s urging that the upcoming generation of adults in the U.S. continue or start participating in the elections.

“They need to come out. They need to vote. They need to get involved because it’s their generation. My generation is moving out the way,” Mack said. “We need young people to come in and it’s only gonna happen if they come in and get involved.”