D.C. residents turned out today to voice their opinions on the issues that matter most in the election: reproductive rights, climate change, local government and ranked choice voting. The result: Vice President Kamala Harris swept in no surprise the District’s three electoral votes.
How future generations influence the vote
With kids racing out of the front of Janney Elementary School in Tenleytown, Election Day begins with the majority of polling places taking over elementary and middle schools in the District.
Meno Lepetit, a voter and parent of a student at Janney, brought her daughter along with her this morning to vote.
“I really wanted my daughter to get the experience of voting. So instead of sending in a mail-in-ballot, I decided to come in and do it in person with her,” Lepetit said.
However, showing her daughter how to vote wasn’t the only reason Lepetit used her right to vote this morning, raising questions surrounding reproductive rights as an issue she was concerned about.
“I think [reproductive rights are] super important, especially as a woman,” Lepetit said. “And so that was a factor in my vote, for sure.”
Lepetit’s daughter was joined by classmates who were also brought by parents with several children racing around the front lawn of Janney wearing their parents’ “I Voted” stickers.
That might explain the consistent line out the door, as Josh Neirmam, a poll worker and voter assistant clerk at Janney, identified that “there’s never been no one inside the polling place.”
With a constant flow of people, Neirman explained that Janney was busy in the morning and the amount of people coming to cast their votes has only increased. Neirman seemed excited by the strong engagement even though he arrived at Janney at 6 a.m. and will remain until after polls close.
“I’m just glad to see our democracy in action,” Neirman said.
- Sydney Hsu
Climate concerns influence voters
On an uncharacteristically warm November morning in Columbia Heights, D.C. resident Tim Smith cast his ballot with a specific issue in mind: climate change.
Smith, 34, showed up at Bell Multicultural High School in a T-shirt with sweat beading on his upper lip. To him, voting for Kamala Harris was the clear choice for meaningful climate action.
Smith’s biggest expectation was for Harris to be more proactive than the Biden administration regarding environmental policies, foreign policy and other prominent political issues.
“Biden wasn’t terrible on climate,” Smith said. “But I want [Harris] to do a lot more.”
Smith believes every vote is important — especially when urgent steps are necessary to address the worsening climate.
“I think running up the score on popular vote matters,” Smith said.
- Richa Sharma
‘The People’s Champ’ visits polling station in Ward 8
Ward 8 residents in D.C. were greeted by Ward 8 councilmember candidate Trayon White at the polls today at Union Temple Baptist Church on W Street SE.
The incumbent candidate for D.C. Council said that he should be reelected to office because he “work[s] hard for the people each and every day.”
“I’m in the streets, in the community, fighting for equity and inclusion on all levels,” White said. “From equity for our schools, to building new grocery stores in our ward, to building five recreation centers in our ward… two senior living facilities, a senior wellness center. I do it all.”
In the past year, White has worked to open a community co-op garden for residents in the area, The Well at Oxon Run. White also has plans to open a new grocery store in the ward in less than two months.
“We’re dreaming out loud,” White said.
David Anderson, a certified electrician in D.C. and Texas, said that he didn’t vote for D.C. councilmember, and only came out to cast his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Well, the main issue that brought me out day [is] that everything that's going on in this world that’s corrupt, sin, evil is because of men,” Anderson said. “It’s time for a change, and no one can fix things like a woman.”
- Tyler Davis
Ranked choice voting on the ballot in D.C.
Residents lining up to vote across Ward 8 Tuesday morning were greeted by volunteers and campaign officials advocating for a yes vote on Initiative 83. If passed by voters and then approved by D.C. Council, the initiative would allow for ranked choice voting and registered Independents to vote in one party’s primary, beginning in 2026.
Ashley Chapin, social media manager for Make All Votes Count DC and their YES on 83 campaign, said she believes deciding how voting works should be the people’s choice.
“I care extremely about the people being able to decide what is good for their own governance and I absolutely believe in the power of ranked choice voting,” Chapin said.
D.C. joins four states with ranked choice voting on the ballot this election. Several states and municipalities across the country have already passed the method, including Maine, Alaska, New York City and Seattle.
Chloe Weeks, a student at Howard University and a Make All Votes Count DC/YES on 83 volunteer, said she feels passionately about Independents being more involved in the voting process.
“I’m out here today to allow Independents to be a part of the election fully. Independents are tax paying individuals, so they should be allowed to participate in any election,” Weeks said.
Twenty-nine states in the U.S. have an open or partially-open primary system. Chapin hopes for D.C. to be next to adopt this.
“I definitely believe in letting every single person vote in our most essential elections, and that includes the primary elections,” Chapin said. “... Independents should absolutely be included in every step of the voting process.”
- Luna Jinks
This article was edited by Mackenzie Konjoyan and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Emma Brown, Sydney Kornmeyer, Charlie Mennuti and Ella Rousseau.
