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Opinion

Voters do their patriotic duty 

Denise Hewitt 
Opinion Columnist

In the early grey light Tuesday morning, a small group of people clustered in an apartment complex gym, sleepily unpacking equipment and setting up tables. They were preparing for election morning in a suburban Houston precinct an hour before the polls opened. The polling location was new; the apartment complex was not there during the last election. The voting machines were new to most who voted Tuesday, slowing down the process as people learned the unfamiliar equipment. 

For the workers, officially sworn in minutes before the polls opened, the day would pass in a blur.

An elderly Vietnamese couple shuffled in, shyly presenting a stack of documents to prove that they were now citizens and could vote. 

The children were the best. A 6-week-old baby girl slept soundly; her mother cradled her as she signed in. 

One father pointed out on the voter register where his son's name would one day be listed next to his mom and dad. 

A young boy reassured his mother not to worry because the new machines were "just like a video game." 

Best of all were the restless tykes, breaking away from their parents in line to run in huge, laughing circles through the gym, breaking the tension of trying to cram hundreds of people through 15 awkward and often confusing voting machines. 

Not every moment went precisely as planned. Voters were frustrated with the yearly shift of Precinct 58's polling place caused by huge population growth. Their frustration was compounded by the special election to replace former Rep. Tom Delay, which required some voters to vote twice for their candidate, a confusing proposition at best. A few voters took out their frustration on the election workers. A Rolex-wielding, Brooks Brothers-suited white man and his perfectly coiffed wife declared that their vote was being suppressed by the change of venue. 

Twelve hours after the polls had opened, quiet once again reigned in the gym, broken only by the papery rustle of the election judge signing off on documents and the snap-click of the election machines being packed away. The day had been packed with faces, some friends and neighbors, others complete strangers. All were there for the most important thing any American can do, for what was fought for so long ago and repeatedly defended since: the right to elect our own representative voices, the right to vote.

Hewitt, a history senior, 
can be reached at denise.uh@gmail.com.