First-Time Voters Cast Their Ballots and Hope for the Best

Deborah Chai, digital media production major: “I’m a woman of color so I thought it was important to vote for my interests and to make sure that I don’t let anything win that isn’t gonna support me and my staying in this country [as a naturalized citizen]. I think Hillary will win and that Trump will lose and I’ll laugh at the feat of a lot of white Republican men.” Photo by Tithee Patel
Dan Spiwak: “Initially I wasn’t planning on voting for anyone this year because I got sick of constantly hearing everyone bicker about it. But, as the year went on and more and more information about the candidates came out, I knew that I had to vote this year. It was really when my dad told me that he was voting for Trump that I knew I had to get out there and at least counteract his vote.” Photo by Bill Lanier
Remy Deutsch: “No matter what happens today, a revolution has started and it’s forced the Republican Party to reassess itself.” Photo by Bryce Eckwall
Annestasha Powis: “I voted because I wanted to create change and take in the opportunity to be able to vote…I think social media affected the elections a lot because there are a lot of things media puts out that are not true.” Photo by Aliyyah Sarvis
Samantha Guglielmno: “This election is the only thing that has been on my mind for weeks. There really is no other choice but Hillary, and I’m nervous what the repercussions will be if our country votes differently.” Photo by Briana Dunlay

Many SUNY New Paltz students cast their votes for the first time in the 2016 presidential election. To capture their reactions to the campaigns, candidates and meaning of their vote, students from Prof. Lisa Phillips’ Feature Writing class and Prof. Rachel Somerstein’s Journalism 1 class went to local polling places. Here’s what voters had to say.