Senior Frank Roberts will get the opportunity to vote for the first time in the upcoming election on Tuesday Nov. 3. He is looking forward to getting the whole experience; from waiting patiently in line for his turn in the ballot box, to walking out of the Ferrysburg City Hall with a sense of pride and a “I Voted” sticker adhered to his shirt.  Roberts reveals what it’s like to be a first time voter.

Q: WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF REGISTERING TO VOTE LIKE? 

A: “I mean it was just online when I did it. It was pretty easy, you just had to have a few different identifications to send in including a social security number and things like that”

Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT VOTING IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION? 

A: “I’d say I feel pretty lucky to be as interested in politics as I am right now. I know a lot of other people my age aren’t necessarily interested in until they get into their 30’s. I mean, I can understand that because our system feels so divisive and discouraging right now. I’m excited to vote, just because I’m getting to exercise that right. I’m not necessarily as excited about the people I have to choose from. I’d say it’s more recent that I had really gotten interested in politics and how government works. Just in the last few years, it has really caught my attention.”

Q: WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

A: “To me, I think it should be their ability to take what is given to them and to manage it well no matter what, even if I may disagree with how they manage it a little bit, so long as they’re handling it in a solid manner.”

Q: HAVE YOU DONE RESEARCH ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS?

A: “Yeah, yeah I have. Down the ballot stuff I haven’t looked at as much. I really looked into considering that there’s more than just two options out there. Which is nice to know, but at the same time it’s a little discouraging that it still seems like they are our only option.”

Q: WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?

A: “For down the ballot, I’ve been trying to get myself familiarized with all the issues. I know on the ballot this year there are a few amendments to the Michigan constitution that are being proposed. I find those pretty interesting to read up on as well as the policy behind the other down the ballot candidates. Not just, you know, blue or red, but what their vision is for Michigan, because you can be different political parties but still have a really good intention and good policy for the people.

Q: WHAT THINGS DID YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN CHOOSING WHO TO VOTE FOR?

A: “So the main consideration that I had was the policy measures. It’s not really whether I like how that person presented themselves or if voting for this means voting for someone else. I really took it on a policy basis of what I would want for the future.”

Q: DID YOU VOTE THROUGH THE MAIL OR ARE YOU VOTING IN PERSON?

A: “I’m going in person on election day. It’s not that I’m worried about ballots or anything, but just because I am excited to go there and have that feeling of standing in the line, even though that’s not something that sounds all that exciting.”

Q: DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR VOTE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

A: “Every vote matters but in the grand scheme of things it’s not just about one person’s vote but about the entire nation, and its entirety. Being a part of that I think is important so, yeah.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHER FIRST TIME VOTERS?

A: “I’d say to always inform yourself, first and foremost. Know both sides of the issue, understand both arguments and that there’s always two sides to everything. It’s not, you know, one side is all the way right or all the way wrong. Don’t get discouraged because I know it can feel pretty discouraging at times when you look at it.”

Q: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO FUTURE VOTERS?

A: “So for them, I would tell them to start paying attention now because the things that people do and say now affect what will happen later and the things that people do and say now will hold them accountable later. So just ultimately start looking into what’s out there.”