San Diego State University students Mason Finta and Nathan Cudal voted for the first time in this election. Finta took the opportunity seriously. He said he felt “important.” Cudal was excited about it. He even skipped “pizookie Tuesday” for the occasion.
But the experience came at a cost. Both had to wait more than two hours to finally cast their votes. According to San Diego County data, the wait there was at times more than two and a half hours.
San Diego Documenter and The Daily Aztec Editor-in-Chief Roman Fong was there to capture the students’ experience.
San Diego State University students face long lines to vote on Nov. 3, 2026. (Roman Fong/San Diego Documenters) 
San Diego State University students wait in line to vote during the Nov. 3, 2026 election. (Roman Fong/San Diego Documenters) 
San Diego State University students wait in line to vote during the Nov. 3, 2026 election. (Roman Fong/San Diego Documenters)
Cudal and Finta reflected over the coming-of-age moment.
“There’s so much in the world I wasn’t aware of because I wasn’t really politically conscious. But now that I’m 18, I feel it’s my civic duty to vote,” Cudal said.
“I’m choosing to wait in line because I believe voting is important. As long as you’re over 18, you should get out and you should make your voice heard,” Finta said.
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