In March, Stephanie Greenwood pledged to be a voice for her family. Thanks to early voting on campus, she had a chance to make a difference.
Nine months ago, Stephanie Greenwood felt miles away from voting in her first Presidential election. Now, with only hours to go until the race is called, her decision to vote in honor of her family is still as important as it was in March.
It felt good to have the option to make sure someone like Donald Trump doesn’t win, because he threatens the life of many people that are starting their lives just the way my family did,” said Greenwood.
Greenwood decided to take advantage of the early voting polling station at the University of Nevada, Reno because of her work schedule, even though she’d always dreamed of going on Election Day.
“I always thought about what my experience would be like on voting day, like going to the polling place, but realistically with my school schedule and my work schedule that’s not gonna happen,” said Greenwood.
Greenwood appreciates her ability to vote, because she understands not everybody is as fortunate. Her mother Leticia is an undocumented Mexican immigrant who came to the United States in 1969. Greenwood is worried that a Trump presidency could lead to deportation for other families with undocumented family members.
“If Donald Trump gets elected and [undocumented immigrants] get deported or sent back, it’s like all their work is just cut down the middle and now they’ve lost years of their lives and their children’s lives for absolutely nothing,” said Greenwood. “Then they’ll go back and their kid is like fifteen-years- old. And that’s what happened to my mom, she only saw her mom two or three times a year.”
Leticia was five-years-old when her mother left to work in the States. The only time she was able to see her family was during Christmas. Tragically, before Leticia’s mother could finish the paperwork to bring her family over, she was killed in a car accident. Leticia eventually immigrated when she turned 21, but this time as an undocumented citizen.
It would be nice to be able to vote. Living in this position, it’s like you have no control,” said Leticia. “It makes me upset. She [Stephanie] has to be the voice for us.”
Leticia takes pride in her daughter’s political involvement and her dedication to civic engagement.
“I think it’s a really good experience for her, she’s done quite well for doing all of this research. I feel really proud of her that she’s getting to vote. All voices matter, if you don’t vote then you can’t complain,” said Leticia.
Nevada polls will remain open until 7 p.m. PST. According to the Washoe County General Election, anyone in line or approaching the door of the polling place by 7:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote.