First-Time Voters Cite 24-Year Wait and Family Status as Key Motives

Nicole Solis-Sison cast her first ballot in New York City this week, ending a process that began when she was seven years old. The 34-year-old arrived in Los Angeles seeking asylum from the Philippine government. An immigration agent at her home suggested her family file for asylum, a move that allowed them to stay in the United States legally. After more than two decades in the system, Solis-Sison became a citizen earlier this year. She created her own voter guide for the election, describing the milestone as a weight to protect others currently navigating the same legal hurdles.

In California, Juan Escalante is facing a different ballot burden. The 37-year-old, who moved from Venezuela at age 11, recently received a mail-in ballot that overwhelmed him with its size. He meticulously researched every proposition and candidate. Escalante said his family’s immigration case was mishandled by a lawyer, leaving them out of the line entirely until he gained status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. He became the first citizen in his family in 2025. Despite the complexity of the California ballot, he said he never took the opportunity for granted, aiming to translate his values as a Latino and first-generation voter into his choice.

For voters in mixed-status families, the election carries a protective function. Deisy España, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen from Wisconsin, is voting on behalf of her undocumented Mexican parents. Her mother recently obtained a green card, but España still fears for her father given the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. She recalled her mother praying during traffic stops out of fear of being turned over to the agency. España said she feels a duty to vote for those who cannot, a message she shares with other young voters in similar positions.

Leydi Gonzalez, 23, in Texas, is voting with a specific legal outcome in mind. She turned 21 in 2024, the age at which she could petition for her parents, who are from El Salvador. Thanks to her sponsorship, her parents now have authorization to be in the U.S. and are awaiting residency approval. Gonzalez said her family had contingency conversations about who would care for her siblings if her parents were detained. Those discussions began when Donald Trump was first elected president. She cited the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Texas as a recent event that raised the stakes for her community.

The political context in Texas adds urgency to Gonzalez’s vote. A high-profile U.S. Senate race pits Democrat James Talarico against Republican nominee Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general. Despite Texas being a reliably red state, Talarico has been polling ahead of Paxton. Gonzalez said she is voting for her best interest, but the decision is driven by a desire for security for her family. She views the election as a chance to influence the legal protections available to her parents as they wait for their residency approval.