Syracuse Voters Exercise their Right at North Central Church
By Shannon Stubbs
18-year-old Anna Chup just voted for the first time in her life.
One of the many voters to show up to the polling station at North Central Church despite the persistent showers and gusting winds, Chup felt it was necessary due to the her worries about global warming and changes in the environment. She says voting is a way for her voice to be heard.
“We currently don’t have people in Congress who want change about things like that,” she says.
Other voters at North Central also say that voting is essential to making change in this country, including Louise Haskell. This year she hopes to see a swing in the House of Representatives in favor of the Democratic vote. She says that she’s voted in every election, even sending absentee ballots if she’s ever not in the area.
“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” Haskell says.
Fellow voter Andrew Stackton agrees with this sentiment. He always votes – whether or not there’s anything specific on the ballot that he feels strongly about. He believes that voting is our civic duty as Americans – a right that many people don’t have.
“Every election is important, despite people saying their vote doesn’t count,” he says. “You still have a responsibility as Americans to go out and do it.”
After her first voting experience, Anna Chup says that she’s committed to voting for change. It has already let to a new motto for her:
“Vote or die,” she says.
