I voted today, on Nov. 5th, to make my voice heard because not voting was not an option for me, and it would not help either Gaza or Lebanon. 

 

From day one, I knew I would not vote for either Trump or Harris because they both support the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and both are very hostile toward Muslims and Palestinians as well as Lebanese. 

 

Dr. Jill Stein was my candidate. She was the only anti-genocide candidate. She met with Arab and Muslim Americans. She took part in pro-Palestinian protests against the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, which I know of. I was fully aware that it would be next to impossible that Jill Stein would win but I would not sleep well at night if I voted for either Trump or Harris, whose nicknames are Doormat Donny and Holocaust Harris.

 

My initial response after Jill Stein's name was removed from the ballot in Ohio 10 days was sadness and disappointment. So, it was time to choose another write-in candidate. After some serious thought, I decided on Gadi Francis for President and Rania Khalek for Vice President. After filling up my absentee ballot and before mailing it, I realized Gadi Francis was not a US citizen (Sorry, Miss Ghadi). Therefore, I decided to vote in person and had to pick two other write-in candidates: I settled for Dr. Sumaya Hamadmad for President and Rania Khaled for the VP candidate while I concluded the two Senate candidates were far worse than Harris and Trump. So I picked up Mazen Rasul, a local Palestinian attorney, for my write-in Senate race. I will explain why I chose those three people as the write-in candidates.

 

So, I drove to Whittier Elementary School where my four youngest children attended to cast my vote. Upon showing my ID to the voting official, I was told that I had already received an absentee ballot to vote by mail. I told him yes, but I had changed my mind and had not mailed my ballot. So, the gentleman directed me to go to the provisional table, where they explained to me that I had to fill out the ballot by hand. 

 

The two voting officials (Daniel and Alicia) were very pleasant and helpful. I asked if I was authorized to take a picture of the ballet after I finished making my choices. They were not 100% sure, and they had never been asked about this before. In all honesty, I was not sure either. I was asked to wait while one of them went to ask a higher-up official named Susan for clearance. Meanwhile, Alicia kept calling the Franklin Country Board of Election for an answer.

All that she got was an answering machine. Finally, Susan called a private number and got an okay. Only if I take a picture of the ballot section where it showed my write-in candidates. I was fine with that. That means I have physical proof of who my three write-in candidates were. Basically, I was very honest with them from the beginning as I told them I am a freelance writer, and I am writing an article about the election, how I voted, and why.

 

At first, this is the most interesting election I've voted in since I came to America 47 years ago this week. Personally, I believe the highest form of patriotism is exercising my right to free speech, even if it is not popular. For that reason, free speech is what I enjoy the most about living in America.

 

Who are the three write-in candidates I chose:

 

* Ghadi is a brilliant war correspondent stationed in Lebanon. I replaced her because she was not a US citizen.

 

* Rania Khalek is an award-winning investigative journalist. She received the Seymour Hersh Award. I saw her speak on TV programs and debate pro-genocide guests about Gaza and Lebanon more than any other Arab American. Rania is of Lebanese descent.