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Woman who has never voted before cries after casting ballot in Alabama: 'It counts'

'My eyes just burning. Ain’t nobody crying'

Alexandra Wilts
Washington DC
Wednesday 13 December 2017 23:59 GMT
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Supporters of Doug Jones erupt is celebration during an election-night watch party Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala
Supporters of Doug Jones erupt is celebration during an election-night watch party Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala

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A woman who voted for the first time appeared to have tears of joy after she cast her ballot in Alabama’s Senate race.

“My eyes just burning. Ain’t nobody crying,” 33-year-old Nuris Bigelow joked as she is seen in a video wiping her eyes. “My vote counts!”

The video was posted on Twitter by ThinkProgress reporter Kira Lerner.

“Why are you so emotional right now?” a person can be heard asking the woman.

“My eyes just burning. I’m not emotional,” she responded before repeating, “My vote counts.”

She declared it was her “first vote ever”.

“It feels great to know that your vote counts,” she said.

Thousands of Alabama voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in a crucial election, blowing through turnout estimates of 20 to 25 per cent. According to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, voter turnout was around 35 per cent.

In a shocking upset, Democratic candidate Doug Jones defeated his Republican opponent Roy Moore, who was dogged by sexual harassment allegations.

Mr Moore vehemently denied all the allegations against him.

A Democrat has not been elected to the Senate in Alabama in 25 years.

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