NBC10 Interns' First-Time Voting Experience

Gina Mazziotta
NBC10 Intern, Consumer Department
Arcadia University, Senior
Major: Print Communications

As a first time voter, I found the election process to be rather exciting. Before this election I had no real interest in politics but now that I can participate in this election I find myself checking the news for updates from the campaign trail.

I now find it very exciting and I am thrilled to be a part of the process.

I'm a college student away from home so I had to vote by absentee ballot, which I submitted over a month ago. It was interesting to vote absentee, however, I am concerned about my vote being counted. I submitted my ballot by mail and have received no confirmation that my ballot was ever received.

I have to go on faith that my vote did count -- at least I skipped waiting in those impossibly long lines at the polls today!

Kenya Brown
NBC10 Intern, Web Department
Temple University, Senior
Major: Marketing

Today was a day that I have been waiting for since I knew what voting was, so I was very excited. I set my alarm clock around 7:30 a.m. so that I could vote before I going to work.

I had a convenient voting location less than a block from my apartment at a school.

I was nervous at first because I didn't really know what it would look like inside or how many people would be in there. Once I got inside, it wasn’t really what I expected -- there were three polls and only about five people waiting in front of me. The crazy thing is that one of the check-in people said that there were more people who had voted today by 8:30 a.m. than a whole election day in the past.

After a few minutes it was all over -- I was so excited that I immediately called my mom.

Tevis Weir
NBC10 Intern, Press and Community Relations
Arcadia University, Senior
Major: Print Communications

To be a young voter means that I am able to give myself a powerful voice -- a voice that lets those in power know what I want, what I desire and what I aspire to become.  

I'm a full-time college student working two jobs so this election is more important than the last election was for me. The events and experiences that have changed and reshaped this nation have reshaped my outlook on the future. 

As a young voter I am able to change the future.

Amber Anderson
NBC10 Intern, Web Department
Temple University, Senior
Major: Political Science and Economics

Excited! is the word to explain the way I felt after voting this morning.

I saw young people gather in the North Philly neighborhood near my university and they were so proud to be voting, some for the first time.

This was my second general election, but I must say, it is the first time where I felt proud of the act of voting. The sense of pride came from the fact that I am a part of changing history and participating in an election of unprecedented anticipation.

Patricia Swayne
NBC10 Intern, Consumer Department
Temple University, Junior
Major: Broadcast Journalism

I feel like the stakes have never been higher and the pressure has never been more suffocating. 

This is my first time ever voting in a presidential election and already I feel like this is a day that I will never forget. My heart has been pounding out of my chest since yesterday night. 

It's an indescribable feeling -- knowing that I will be directly affected by the outcome of this election.  

The fire that is people my age -- doing this for the first time -- you can't douse something like that. You can only dim it. 

I think what's even more overwhelming, is the fear: The fear of what is yet to come -- the fear of the unknown. It is the fear of the despair that could crush us all -- the fear that young people won't even count. 

I will cast my vote tonight after I leave the station. 

This is the day that could change this nation, forever.  I'll just remember that I did my part; I exercised my right. 

Julio C. Nunez   
NBC10 Intern, Investigators
Temple University
Major: Journalism

As a Mexican citizen living in Philadelphia, I see a different picture this election cycle. I may not be able to pick a horse in this race officially, but my non-citizen status in America has not banned me from experiencing this historic race. 

Today, I see a substantial change in people's attitude: I see the seeds of prosperity being planted; I see democracy in the making;  I see the reason why I decided to come to this country in the first place. 

I may not see change yet, but I see improvement.  

Today I wish I could say I voted and not to get a free cup of coffee.  I wish I could say that I voted because it is my civic duty to do so, but I guess today is just not my time.

Sherrell Oliver
NBC10 Intern, The 10! Show
St. Joseph’s University, Senior
Major: Political Science and English

I am a 21-year-old college student and today will be my first time voting.

I am going to drive to my hometown of Buckingham, Pa after work today. I am anticipating that the lines will be very long.

I have heard from friends and colleagues who voted this morning that there were lines around the corner. If it's that busy in the morning than I suspect there will be a whole lot more people there by the time I arrive around 5 p.m.

I am especially happy that my first voting is during such a historical election. History will be made no matter who wins. We will either have the first African-American President or the first female Vice President.

I will definitely be up late waiting for the results!