Voters in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. casted their ballot in the 2024 presidential election Tuesday afternoon. Reporters and spectators occupied street corners and sidewalks as voters walked in and out of their polling locations.
D.C. native, Sharice Coleman stood in line outside the Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library with her 6-year-old daughter to vote for her fourth time. Roughly 50 people stood with her.
“My daughter loves seeing how this works and she always wants to come with me to vote. Standing out here is important because not voting is unacceptable, everyone should vote and I’m glad she gets to experience this with me,” Coleman, a part-time security guard at Howard, said.
Coleman and her daughter were amongst a variety of people outside of the library. Voters waiting to get inside were a mix of different racial, ethnic and age groups. Some came dressed in their work uniforms while others were more casual in T-shirts and sweats.
People talked quietly to one another in small groups of two or three, while others scrolled on their phones as they patiently waited to get inside.
Winner Gezaei, a freshman computer science major, waited outside, wearing a Howard book bag. He was one of a handful of Black men voting at this location.
“It is my first time voting and I’m excited. A Howard alumna having the chance of becoming our president is something that I have to support as a Howard student,” Gezaei said.
The library is one of seven in-person polling locations within a mile of Howard’s campus, the election night headquarters of Vice President Kamala Harris. For instance, other locations such as the Prince Hall Masonic Temple are located in the greater U Street Historic District.
Ivana Mowry-Mora, a non-profit professional and Shaw resident voted in person at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple situated next to the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo metro stop.
“I am excited to vote today. I think collective power appears when you express your voice as your vote. I am happy to see the polling room full today and people getting out to vote on what they care about,” Mora said.
The area surrounding the Prince Hall Masonic Temple was scattered with reporters capturing the moment. Supporters of legislation such as Initiative 83 handed out infographics and talked with voters looking to persuade their final vote.
Judea Marvin, a freshman legal communications major voted at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. Her face beamed as she talked about her first year at Howard being marked by this “historic” election.
“My emotions are all over the place. I’m excited but overwhelmed, especially coming from North Carolina and being in the nation’s capital at such a chaotic time,” Marvin said.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
