Families turn out at the polls for early voting

BURLINGTON, N.C. –– As sisters Latasha and Natesha Briskey left the polling site at the Holly Hill Mall in the afternoon of Oct. 20, a young girl strode alongside them, decked out in pigtails and Biden-Harris campaign stickers. The Briskeys had just finished early voting and Latasha’s daughter was there for the ride and the learning experience.

Both the girl’s mom and aunt believe that being able to see the voting process is a valuable lesson for kids. When they come with their family to vote, children are being introduced to how elections work, Latasha explained over the light hum of the crowd and background music at the mall. Through this experience, she said that they start to develop a sense for politics and even what makes a good candidate. 

In past years, Latasha had voted while her daughter studied in school. This time, because of the pandemic, mother and daughter attended early voting together. This was the young girl’s first trip to the polls, but Latasha plans on making voting a family affair again going forward.

The young girl stands by her mother and her aunt, taking everything in, in silent appreciation. 

The Briskeys were not the only family present at the polling site that afternoon. Many families were waiting in the line that spanned over nine storefronts past the polling site. In these cases, politics have become a family activity. In North Carolina, all minors are allowed in the voting booths when accompanied by a voter, but not all of the families taking a trip to the polls included young children.

Pediatrician Perri Klass reported in the New York Times that when voting is a family activity, younger generations are more likely to create a habit of voting. Taking your kids with you to vote then, might inspire voter turnout once they are old enough to cast their own ballot as well.

Antonio Walters was the first in his family to finish the voting process, beating his parents Gary and Nydia Walters by several minutes. At 19 years old, this was his first time voting. For the Walters, politics are a family activity. They watch the news together regularly and trust one another’s political opinions, with Gary as the opinion leader about candidates. 

As a family, they turned up to vote because politics, on both a national and local level, are important to them.

“Not to the point of being crazy though,” Gary clarified.

A while later, Linda Kidd arrived at Holly Hill Mall to wait for her daughter, Nancy Kidd, who was there for early voting. Linda has lived and voted in Alamance County for about 30 years. She had already voted that previous Saturday but was there to support her grown daughter as she finished up her ballot. 

Nancy’s daughter, Shelby, was there too, but only in spirit. Linda whipped out a photo of her from her wallet. Although old enough to vote, Linda’s granddaughter is registered in a different district and was not included in that day’s family trip to the polls.

For the Kidds, the family affair extends beyond voting together, though. Within the family, they all stick to the same political party affiliation as a tradition, Linda said.

“My dad was raised a Democrat; I was raised a Democrat,” she revealed. “My whole family [was].”

Family ties hold many stories at the election site. Barbara Bennett Byrd sat at a table behind a chain link separating her from the line of voters. She was there advocating for her husband, Bob Byrd, who was running for reelection as an Alamance County Commissioner. 

By her side stood John Coleman, a candidate for the Alamance County Board of Education. Although there alone, Coleman said his primary reason for running is the primary interest of many families: their kids. He wants to be on the school board to improve the Alamance school system (the very one he graduated from) for the children. He is inspired by his nephew who lives with him and attends an Alamance County public school. 

“It’s for the kids,” Coleman said. “You do right for the kids.”

Coleman feels confident about his chances at winning, he said. If he is elected, he intends on improving the education system for the kids of Alamance County, some of which were there, in line with their families to vote.