The 2024 election has come and gone, and while I am ultimately disappointed in how things have unfolded, I am still beyond proud of myself and my peers for fulfilling our democratic duty and making our voices heard. In previous elections, I have felt helpless watching campaigns progress because I knew my opinion would have no effect on the eventual outcome. Yet, this time I felt so much more connected to the process since I finally was able to cast a vote in the election.
While I was excited at the polling booth, I was also overwhelmed by the number of items on the ballot and, what to me felt like, a lack of information surrounding what I could or could not do while there. Even though I had done research and found practice ballots on Vote.org, there were items such as bond issues and judges that I did not feel informed enough to cast a vote. This immediately panicked me because, even though it may have been clear for veteran voters, I did not know if I was allowed to quickly search on my phone what would be the best position for me, and if I couldn’t, what would happen if I left sections blank.
Once I finished my time in the booth, I waited anxiously for polls to begin closing around the country. It was excruciating watching critical swing states flip back and forth, with margins just in the hundreds or thousands of votes.
I went to sleep hopeful, but like thousands of other women around the country, I woke up around 2 a.m. on Nov. 6, and I could tell that something had shifted.
The uncertainty I have for the future of our country is immense. President-Elect Donald Trump has already named Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host with no formal political experience, to be his secretary of defense. He’s also chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr., someone who has publicly stated he believes vaccines cause autism, despite research proving otherwise, to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. These choices are extremely concerning to me because, as of 2025, some of the most influential people in the country will not be following the recommendations of health experts or do not have any government experience.
Additionally, Trump will likely have the opportunity to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court, in addition to the three he appointed during this first term in office. It is speculated that the older Republicans on the court will step down in favor of adding younger party members. This may not sound like a drastic change, but when put in perspective, it becomes clear how dangerous this will be. Another Trump-appointed judge will be detrimental not only to our generation but also to our children’s generation. With decisions that allowed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, strengthened presidential immunity, and criminal charges for unhoused people, the conservative bloc has already taken extreme measures to alter the landscape for decades to come.
Overall, I’m extremely happy I was able to voice my opinion in the presidential election for the first time, but unfortunately, I am fearful of what the future holds for our country as the new president-elect discusses his plans for the next four years. I look forward to 2028 when I will be able to cast my vote a second time and maybe even work on a candidate’s campaign.
