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Does Your Vote Matter: Balil Chaudry, Maryland
Recorded from Salisbury, Maryland, 2021.
This snapshot was gathered by the Peale in conjunction with the Maryland Voices initiative at Maryland Humanities, specifically to supplement the "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program. This collection, made up of stories of first-time voters between the ages of 18 and 24, showcases the experiences of young people as they wrestled with the 2020 presidential election, issues around social justice, the environment, immigration, and the pandemic. The full collection of stories is available at www.museumonmainstreet.org.
Balil Chaudry (00:00): My name is Balil Chaudry, I'm a senior at Salisbury University. I grew up in Brooklyn and Salisbury, Maryland. I was in Brooklyn until I was 10 years old, and then I moved down here for the rest of my life, basically. Then I stayed here for college as well. It's an interesting mix because I got to live in both the city, more rush of a vibe and also Salisbury, which is a really small town.
Balil Chaudry (00:27): So I got to see the disparity and both aspects of America. My parents immigrated here in the eighties. So ever since I was young, they pushed the importance of voting just to make sure our voices are heard and any underrepresented community in the United States, especially minority groups, they get their voice heard. They get what they need. So they definitely pushed the importance of voting.
Balil Chaudry (00:52): And even when it was Maryland, we were all pushing each other really to make sure we signed up to get the mail in ballot. But overall, yeah, it's more of a family affair, and sometimes it can feel daunting or might seem like your vote doesn't matter. But at the end of the day it really does. Yeah.
Balil Chaudry (01:10): I definitely heard a lot more people being vocal about it overall, and I understand there's a perception that out of 7 million or however many people are in the United States, one vote can't make that big of a difference. But, who knows if it's going to be down to that one vote was how close it's going to be. Especially if it goes onto electoral votes and specific districts, that can be that close. So it definitely does matter.
Balil Chaudry (01:39): And all of my friends, I feel like voted. I know some people did feel like, "What's the point?" But everybody has their own beliefs, but best you can do is motivate them to do it.
Asset ID: 2021.03.06.d
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By The PealeRecorded from Salisbury, Maryland, 2021.
This snapshot was gathered by the Peale in conjunction with the Maryland Voices initiative at Maryland Humanities, specifically to supplement the "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program. This collection, made up of stories of first-time voters between the ages of 18 and 24, showcases the experiences of young people as they wrestled with the 2020 presidential election, issues around social justice, the environment, immigration, and the pandemic. The full collection of stories is available at www.museumonmainstreet.org.
Balil Chaudry (00:00): My name is Balil Chaudry, I'm a senior at Salisbury University. I grew up in Brooklyn and Salisbury, Maryland. I was in Brooklyn until I was 10 years old, and then I moved down here for the rest of my life, basically. Then I stayed here for college as well. It's an interesting mix because I got to live in both the city, more rush of a vibe and also Salisbury, which is a really small town.
Balil Chaudry (00:27): So I got to see the disparity and both aspects of America. My parents immigrated here in the eighties. So ever since I was young, they pushed the importance of voting just to make sure our voices are heard and any underrepresented community in the United States, especially minority groups, they get their voice heard. They get what they need. So they definitely pushed the importance of voting.
Balil Chaudry (00:52): And even when it was Maryland, we were all pushing each other really to make sure we signed up to get the mail in ballot. But overall, yeah, it's more of a family affair, and sometimes it can feel daunting or might seem like your vote doesn't matter. But at the end of the day it really does. Yeah.
Balil Chaudry (01:10): I definitely heard a lot more people being vocal about it overall, and I understand there's a perception that out of 7 million or however many people are in the United States, one vote can't make that big of a difference. But, who knows if it's going to be down to that one vote was how close it's going to be. Especially if it goes onto electoral votes and specific districts, that can be that close. So it definitely does matter.
Balil Chaudry (01:39): And all of my friends, I feel like voted. I know some people did feel like, "What's the point?" But everybody has their own beliefs, but best you can do is motivate them to do it.
Asset ID: 2021.03.06.d