First-Time Voter Tallies a Good Experience

The traffic during rush hour on Election Day was heavy on Pleasant Hill Road.

That may have explained why there were no long lines of voters at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday. “It’s been pretty steady all day,” said Laura Lee, a volunteer at the polling site located in The Stratford at Countrywood assisted care facility, 1545 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette.

Among those who were there to vote was 22-year-old Travis Kile and his 19-year-old girlfriend Taylor DeVaughn.

This was Kile’s second time voting. For DeVaughn, who grew up in San Francisco, it was her first time to vote and she almost missed the opportunity. 

“I wanted to vote,” said DeVaughn. “I didn’t know that I could because I didn’t bring my papers.” 

DeVaughn, whose name didn’t appear on the precinct list, had to fill out a provisional ballot. Kile, her boyfriend, waited patiently as she filled out paperwork and then the ballot.

“I think it’s important to vote even though some people say one vote doesn’t matter,” said Kile  “But if a million people do that, that’s a lot of votes.”

A few minutes later a smiling DeVaughn had finished filling out her ballot. “This is so cool — it’s my first time,” said DeVaughn.

As the young couple left, it was clear that rush hour was over. There were about 15 people standing in line, patiently waiting for a chance to cast a ballot.