This is what democracy looks like

In a time of contentious politics, attack mailers, online pile-ons and social divisions, it can be hard to talk to strangers about voting.

Even so, journalists often hang around polling locations on election day waiting to ask voters to reflect publicly on the private act of casting a ballot for their chosen candidates. It’s part of a reporter’s duty to monitor how well our democracy is functioning. And every election, no matter how divisive, a few stop and talk about what voting means to them.

Co-owner of Western AF, photographer, cinematographer and community glue Mike Vanata was able to take a few portraits of kind strangers around Laramie and Cheyenne polling locations Tuesday, but not without many more skirting around him and WyoFile reporters.

“When photographing the election, I was stunned how guarded everyone was,” he said. “I’m usually pretty good at gaining trust before I take a picture of someone. But most of them acted like I was some kind of monster.”

“I know that’s nothing supernatural for a reporter,” Vanata added, “but it was weird to see so much fear with all of my neighbors.”

But not all voters shied away from the camera. Here are just some of Vanata’s portraits from the polls.

Captions starting in the upper right corner moving in a clockwise direction : Ethan and Leslie Eshelman hold baby Owen outside the Storey Gym voting location on Aug. 20; Melanie (left) and Amanda Sinnott walk into the Kiwanis Community House polling place in Cheyenne ; Bo Paulsrud said there wasn’t much on the ballot for registered Democrats on primary day, but he still felt it was important to vote ; Carol Matteson Pascal cast her ballot at the Story Gym in Cheyenne on Aug. 20, 2024 ; Pollwatcher Janelle Larsen kept an eye on things at the Kiwanis Community House polling location during the Aug. 20 primary ; Howard Last retired in Wyoming from New York. He says he likes it better here, especially the people ; Velma and Augie Vialpando voted in the Aug. 20 primary because it was their civic duty. (Mike Vanata/WyoFile)

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