Woman goes into labor in voting line at DeLand Elections Office

BEACON PHOTO/SARAHROSE MINISTERI
Determined to vote — Voters wait patiently at Chisholm Community Center in DeLand, as the line begins to wrap around the building this morning, Nov. 6.

But she still casts her ballot!

By Judith Southard
SPECIAL TO THE BEACON

posted Nov 6, 2012 - 11:01:29am

During early voting Nov. 3 at the Volusia County Historic Courthouse, one woman was truly determined to get her vote counted.

The young woman and her husband were in line to vote. They were way at the back of the line, which extended out into the Courthouse rotunda. The elevator was not working, again, but everyone was being patient, because the wait was not that long. A voting station for people with disabilities was set up in the basement, which another elevator could still reach.  

But for this woman and her husband, the wait was way too long. She was very visibly pregnant, and going into labor. Elections officials offered to call 9-1-1, but she said no. She wanted to vote.

With help from some other voters, she was up the stairs and asking at the entrance to the polling room to be allowed to cast her ballot. With no complaints from anyone, she was led to the sign-in table.

She and her husband got their ballots, and headed to the voting kiosks. She had to sit the whole time.

It was read it and write, then groans as another pain came. Somehow, she managed to finish and get her ballot into the scanner.

Hard labor seemed to be very close, indeed. Somehow, she made it back to the stairs. Elections workers and voters half-carried her, with the hope that her husband could get her to the hospital or birthing center right away.  

At the bottom of the stairs, which we know are a long flight, there was one more pain and her water broke. Now the rush was really on. He had to get her out the door and taken to the hospital.

Everyone was hoping she and her child made it.  

For everyone at the voting site who witnessed this event, we could only hope to later see an announcement of the birth in the newspaper.

No one knew what her status was — Republican, Democrat or Independent — but it didn't matter.

It was an inspiration to us all to understand how important that one vote was.

Editor's note: The Beacon has teamed up with Henry Frederick's Headline Internet newspaper, based in East Volusia, to offer online election coverage throughout the day today. We will post results and interviews with the candidates as soon as they are available this evening. Stay with us for complete coverage of this historic election.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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