Citizens gather at the Ukrainian National Shrine Polling Center in D.C. to vote. 
Photo by: Tyra Trint

HYATTSVILLE, MD. – At 6 a.m. on election day at least 60 people were lined up in front of Hyattsville Middle School to cast their vote for the 2016 Presidential Election. More than two-thirds of those present were women. This election is the first time Americans have the opportunity to elect a female president into the nation’s highest office.

Sandy Thomas, 66, voting since she was 19 years old describes this historical moment as “wonderful, just wonderful. We need a woman president. She’s ok with me.” Thomas arrived at this Hyattsville location at 5:45 a.m. and is first in line. “I think it may be good for the world, I don’t know yet how it will affect the world but I think it may be good to see a woman as president. We got to see what she do when she’s elected.” said Thomas. “I just hope that for the outcome of this election we have world peace.”

While some voters remain hopeful, others are confident in tonight’s outcome. “I think change is good.” said Jackie Rivers, 64. Rivers has been voting since she was 18-years-old. She also arrived before 6 a.m. and is second in line. “If Clinton is elected I think it would be a great change. Everybody deserves a chance.” said Rivers. “I know there will be more peace and less violence after this election.”

Roxanna Allen, 62, is an avid Clinton supporter and arrived to the polling location early in order to hand out Clinton campaign flyers. “I’ve been voting since I was eligible to vote at 18. That was instilled in us and our household when we were young and it feels good that there may be a woman president. It may shake things up in the house and the senate. I love it.” As for changes in America post-election Allen said, “I don’t think Clinton being elected will change the face of America because she was secretary of state already so she knows a lot of the issues, policies and procedures that are occurring in government.” “I think because she was secretary of state the world is more familiar with her and her style of governing so there will not be a direct change.” Allen plans to remain at the polls in hopes to promote the Clinton campaign. “I hope Clinton wins. No, sorry. I KNOW she’s going to win. Speaking that into existence.” said Allen.

Other voters have been waiting decades for this day to come. Anna Frankle, 75, said “I’ve been voting since I was 21. I’ve been waiting a long time for a woman president. It feels wonderful to have this hope and possibility.”  Frankle has been sure from the beginning of who she wanted as democratic nominee, and then as president. “Although I liked a lot of things Bernie had to say I still wanted Clinton to be the democratic nominee. I felt Clinton had a better chance and was better qualified.” “I think she’s got such experience having been a senator and in congress which is awesome. I mean her opponent has zero experience at anything regarding government. She’s worked across the aisle so hopefully congress will be in the mood to work with her.” said Frankle. Frankle hopes that if Clinton is elected “we get some change in congress that will provide all of those within congress to work together, otherwise it’s going to be the same. We need change. They have to stop talking about wanting to impeach her before she’s elected and do some working together or else it’s going to be just another 4 years of how they treated Obama.”

Gloria Thompson, 70, is also confident in what the outcome of this election will be. “I cast my first ballot for Bill Clinton’s first term so I’ve always been confident in her but it doesn’t matter if she is a woman or not. Woman, man, dog, cat, parakeet.  As long as you’re qualified.”

Currently twenty-two nations have had women presidents. However, the world’s “super-power” is yet to accomplish such a feat. Thompson said, “If Clinton is elected it will positively affect America. It will positively affect the world. I think America itself is holding America back from having a woman president. I believe that after Clinton is elected there will finally be some cooperation from the branches of government and that they will finally learn to govern together. I don’t hold much hope for it but I just hope it doesn’t turn into inquisition mecca.”