These new voters, 18 today, are wasting no time

Eighteen years after forcing her mother to miss a vote, Cassandra Dunn finally has a chance to make up for it.

"She went into labor on Election Day," explained Dunn, of Elk Grove, who will have her first opportunity to vote this Election Day – her birthday.

Her mother, Angela Brewer, said that 1994 midterm election was one of very few she missed.

Dunn is one of 16 Sacramento County voters turning 18 today. The 16 who registered to vote are among 60 people in Sacramento County turning 18 today.

State law allows voters to register in advance of their 18th birthday in anticipation of turning 18 on or before Election Day.

Thomas Blay of Gold River was the most proactive. He registered to vote in June.

The group of 16 is overwhelmingly female, with only four young men in it.

Seven of the 16 registered as Democrats, five are new "decline to state" voters, three joined the Republican Party and one registered as an American Independent.

Some of those interviewed by The Bee said their party registration is in line with their parents'. Others said they went their own way.

Crystal Mardones' parents are Democrats, but she registered as a "decline to state" voter.

The Citrus Heights resident said she committed to voting for the better candidate, Republican or Democrat. In the end, she decided to vote for President Barack Obama.

"I just didn't agree with (Republican nominee) Mitt Romney at all," Mardones said. "Obama really supports education a lot."

With only hours to go before the election, Mardones conceded that she procrastinated a bit. She still needs to read up on some of the state propositions, namely the "food one" and the "insurance one."

Blay, who registered as an American Independent, said he's happy to finally get a voice.

He said dissolving the Electoral College would make his planned vote for Mitt Romney mean more, but he's still excited.

"I'll still vote for president, but it doesn't seem as important," he said.

Carly Gootee of Folsom has had some cramming to do. She only recently realized she could vote this year and registered in late October.

Gootee, who registered as a Democrat, will sit down with her Republican parents to go over the propositions. She said she's not concerned about being pressured.

"They have really let me make my own decisions," said Gootee.

These mostly optimistic young voters say they are ready make their voices heard.

"I want to be able to voice my opinion," said Dunn, "and be able to back it up with saying, 'I voted.' "

• Read more articles by Ed Fletcher

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