VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Voting as a family
Antonio Dunston: It’s a brisk morning here in Syracuse, and the Vaught family is on the move again. This is their third trip to the polls this year. For them, voting isn’t just a right. It’s a ritual. And their little one, James, already knows the routine.
Briana Vaught: We decided to come and vote early so that we can bring our son before we had to take him to daycare and go to work ourselves. We try to bring him to as many elections as we can to teach him that voting is everybody’s civic duty and we hope that he will be a lifelong voter.
Dunston: Inside the polling place, James watches quietly and helps out in the best way he can as his parents make their choices. He’s too young to vote, but not too young to learn.
Justin Vaught: I think the earlier we get him started engaging in this as just a normal part of life, as a normal part of his responsibilities as a citizen of the U.S., the more likely he is to keep doing it later on.
Dunston: And while he may not understand the ballot just yet, James is already finding joy in the process and the people.
Briana Vaught: He likes the space. It’s a big space that he can run around in. And everybody loves to see him so they’re all very friendly with him.
Dunston: For the Vaughts, Election Day is more than a checked box. It’s a chance to spark curiosity and build a habit that lasts a lifetime. And while their son won’t be casting a ballot for years to come, his parents say he’s already learning the most important lesson. Democracy starts with showing up. Antonio Dunston, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — For most families, Election Day is a once-a-year obligation. But for one family, it’s become a familiar tradition.
Before daycare drop-off and the morning commute, Briana and Justin Vaught made time for some early morning voting. It’s not the first time this year they’ve done it and it won’t be the last.
Tuesday marked the couple’s third trip to the polls in 2025, each one with their toddler, James, in tow. For the Vaughts, civic participation isn’t merely a personal duty; it’s an opportunity to be genuinely grateful for being involved.
“We decided to come and vote early so that we can bring our son before we had to take him to daycare and go to work ourselves,” Briana Vaught said. “We try to bring him to as many elections as we can to teach him that voting is everybody’s civic duty, and we hope that he will be a lifelong voter.”
James, still years away from casting his own ballot, has already become a fan favorite at the Syracuse polling sites. He watches his parents make their choices, but explores the open space and greets poll workers or anyone else who comes up to him.
“He likes the space,” Briana said. “It’s a big space that he can run around in. And everybody loves to see him, so they’re all very friendly with him.”
James may not understand the ballot yet, but his parents say he’s already absorbing the importance of civic participation.
“I think the earlier we get him started engaging in this as just a normal part of life, as a normal part of his responsibilities as a citizen of the U.S., the more likely he is to keep doing it later on,” Justin Vaught said.
For the Vaughts, voting is more than just checking a box. It’s a teachable moment and his parents hope these early experiences will build a habit that lasts and shape how important he sees his role in democracy is.