New citizens share the experience of voting for the first time

People who drive with Lyft come from all backgrounds - and many are immigrants (in fact, 41% speak a language other than English at home, according to Lyft's Economic Impact Report). Many of these folks come to the U.S. not just for the economic opportunity, but because of what this country stands for. "It's freedom," says L.A.-based driver Gary Ruiz, who emigrated from Guatemala 17 years ago, "Here, your energy can move mountains."

For immigrants who have become naturalized citizens, voting isn't just a duty - it's a privilege. To learn more about their stories, and why voting matters to them, Lyft interviewed three drivers in Los Angeles who are about to vote this Election Day - some for the very first time.

Anastasia Chernaya

In 2010, Anastasia Chernaya was a young Russian woman thinking about her life and career aspirations - and she didn't see a future in her home country. So she picked up and moved to Houston, Texas, soon joining the Army. Seven years later, she moved to L.A. and began driving with Lyft in 2020. "After working in the military and having somebody make decisions for me for seven years, I wanted to make my own schedule," she says.

Although Chernaya gained her citizenship in 2013, she didn't vote for the first time until 2020. "I was waking up to more of the social issues that we have as a society," she says, "and wanting to build a better society too." As she recounted her first voting experience, she got goosebumps: "I didn't fully feel like I was part of this country until the moment that I voted. I felt like I mattered. I felt accepted. I felt like I can give back to the country that allowed me the space to build my life here. It was the feeling of belonging."

This year, Chernaya is "absolutely" planning to vote in the presidential election. "I will go vote before hitting the road and hopefully give rides to the voting stations as well - all while proudly wearing my 'I Voted' sticker!"

Mustafa Dayan

Before moving to the U.S. in 2014, Mustafa Dayan worked for the Department of State in Afghanistan. The difference between the countries' political processes was immediately clear to him: "In Afghanistan, people knew their vote probably didn't matter at all. There's a lot of corruption. It's a kind of formality versus reality. When you have seen things on the other side of the world, you appreciate things at home - and you rush to the polls."

After becoming naturalized in 2021, Dayan did indeed rush to vote in the midterm elections. "Instead of going through violence, we go to the polls and vote and choose the people we want to serve," he says. "It was a great feeling."

On top of freelancing as an insurance salesman, driving, and pursuing hobbies (he's an avid reader), Dayan is now a poll worker too. "They call it FST, field support technician. I'm there in case a device goes down." Having worked the last two local elections, he knows how crazy the last day of voting can be. "At the very last minute, you see people lining up. It gets a little overwhelming!" But no matter what else is going on, Dayan will undoubtedly cast his ballot - for the first time in a presidential election - this year: "With what's going on in the world, what's happening within the country? It's important."

Gary Ruiz

When Gary Ruiz isn't driving with Lyft, teaching math, or working at his part-time telemarketing job, he's probably at the movies or singing karaoke with his wife and two adult children. The Guatemalan native, who has lived in downtown Los Angeles for 17 years, doesn't take his life in the U.S. for granted. "The second generation takes things for granted. Here, if you focus on your family, your future, if you want to do good things, there are opportunities."

Ruiz became naturalized in 2000 and is excited to cast his ballot for the first time this November with his wife. "We want to experience how it is," he says. Ruiz plans to head to the polls early and then spend the rest of the day driving with Lyft in the hopes of encouraging others to do the same. "In other countries, people walk mountains to vote. Using Lyft - it's like heaven. You're going to make it!"

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