As the sun rises on the final day of voting in Saskatchewan’s provincial election, many long-time voters are reflecting on their own monumental first moments at the ballot box.
The nervous excitement, the fluttering heartbeat, and the overwhelming sense of empowerment that comes with casting that first vote are memories that linger long after the ballots are counted.
For 18-year-old Logan Beatty, that day has finally arrived.
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650 CKOM had the honour of being with Beatty as he stepped into the voting booth for the very first time. With a smile that radiated both nerves and excitement, he took a deep breath and embraced the experience.
“I feel great to have a voice,” he said after slipping his ballot into the ballot box. “Just to be included in something like that and know that I had a say… It was awesome!”
In the lead up to his visit to the polling station, Beatty had done his homework, researching the candidates and their platforms.
“I wasn’t necessarily nervous. After doing a bit of research … I knew everything off the bat,” he shared. “Seeing the names there I was like, ‘OK, let’s throw an X down. I know who I’m going for.’”
“It was much easier than I thought it would be,” Beatty said, surprised by the simplicity of the voting process.
“They asked for my driver’s licence and got me registered. They give you a ballot. You throw an X on it, go over to the other side and throw it in. They give you a sticker and you’re done!”
In a world that often feels divided, Beatty’s stance on the importance of voting echoes the sentiments of many other citizens: “Regardless of whether we are young or not, we still have a say. We still have an influence. Old or young, wherever you are at, a vote is a vote.”
His excitement is a reminder that participating in democracy is not just a right, but a responsibility that every citizen should cherish.
“It’s your voice — why not use it?” Beatty said as he proudly affixed his ‘I Voted’ sticker to his shirt.
As the election draws to a close, Beatty reminds us that no matter our age, our voice matters, and every vote counts.
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