For Haitian immigrant Jovhany Michaud, the 2024 general election is the first general election in the United States he voted in. He obtained his U.S. citizenship in 2023. 

After all the anticipation, the entire voting process took Michaud less than 15 minutes. All it took was a short drive to his polling place, an efficient check in process, and then the moment he’d been waiting for – filling out his ballot.  

It all would have gone off entirely without a hitch, if not for selecting the wrong sticker on his way out the door. 

A “Future Voter” no more, he shared his immediate reaction. 

“Yes. I did it. I voted,” Michaud said. “Voting for president, I’ve been waiting for that opportunity for so long, but the day is finally here.” 

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Post-election, Michaud offered his thoughts on how this election compares and contrasts with elections he’s experienced in Haiti. 

“I remember when I was voting in the election. I was voting in the general election for president. (There were) 57 candidates,” he said with a laugh. 

Outside of this obvious difference, he said one of the biggest differences is the attitude and approach of voters. 

“People here are just voting like it’s the right thing to do. You know, it’s my right. It’s my duty to my country,” Michaud said. “In my country most people don’t vote. 

“When you vote, you give the person who is elected a mandate. When you don’t vote, you don’t have anything to say.” 

Michaud remembered the struggles and fears saddled onto Haitian voters. He listed corruption, bribery, fear of violence and driving long, often dangerous treks just to vote and then being threatened and intimidated once arriving at the polling place, all as concerns most Americans don’t have to worry about.  

In the United States, voters are routinely treated to convenient parking, including for those who are disabled, reasonable wait times in line, smiling volunteers to assist, sample ballots and instructions in multiple languages. 

“Here, it’s like you go vote. It’s easy. It’s quick,” Michaud said. “There’s no pressure. Nothing. You don’t have anybody outside of the polling place being like, “Vote for that guy.” 

With the election over, Michaud hoped for clarity as the country moves forward. 

“It’s important for everybody,” he said. “One person wins. The other person concedes. We move on to transition. That’s it. That way, everybody wins.” 

And even though the election results can be polarizing, and nearly half of Americans’ chosen candidate did not win, he also shared encouragement for how individuals, regardless of political affiliation can move on, and continue to take advantage of a democratic process he is just now able to participate in. 

“First of all, you accept the result. You (have a) peaceful transition,” he says. “But you still have a voice. You still can assemble. You still can reflect on how this election went and decide what I’m going to do better next time.”