WASHINGTON –While a lot of them weren’t old enough to have voted in many presidential elections, young Black voters in the District of Columbia said they are making sure to do what they can to re-elect President Obama on Election Day 2012.
“This election is extremely important. President Obama inherited a lot of problems and it’s imperative that he is elected to another term to continue to move forward,” said Erica Day, 29, a Washington, D.C. resident and an executive assistant at Partnership Federal Credit Union.
“I voted at the polls last week and my parents who both support Obama will vote on Tuesday,” said Day. “I exercised my right to vote because a lot of people fought hard for us to have that right. I voted for Obama, and although there are some things I don’t necessarily agree with, I feel he is an overall better choice than Republican candidate Mitt Romney.”
Day believes that Obama is a man of integrity and that was important to her while making a voting decision. So does retail assistant manager Derek Washington, a New Yorker who voted by absentee ballot.
“Obama is still the same cool and calm man I voted for in 2008,” said Washington. “He is the reason all of us are able to provide for our families.”
“Obama brought the troops home. He is my hero,” said Washington. “We are on the road to restore this country back to glory.”
Getting to the polls hasn’t been so easy for everyone, especially Maryland resident Kathryn Willis whose absentee ballot never came in the mail.
“It’s my right and privilege to vote,” said Kathryn Willis, a secondary education teacher in Prince Georges County. “My absentee ballot did not come in the mail but I will be flying home to Atlanta at the last minute to vote,” said Willis.
Willis is an Obama supporter and although young, does realize the importance of voting in this year’s election.
“I want my voting choice to be known and rightfully counted.”
