A 63-year-old. An Iranian refugee. Teenagers. Mexican immigrants. All voted in their first presidential election. Here's what they had to say.

Just 1% of Illinois voters said the 2020 election marked their first time casting a ballot, according to the Associated Press and exit poll surveys. The Tribune spoke with a dozen first-time voters about why they felt it was important to cast their ballots, and how they are feeling a day later with results still pending. Some voted because they became eligible, including newly naturalized U.S. citizens, others felt more strongly than they had in the past about the issues and the candidates. Here's what they had to say.

Ali Tarokh, 35

As a refugee who came to Chicago in 2012 from Iran, Ali Sharifi Tarokh, 35, was excited to be able to cast his ballot for the first time. He became a citizen in 2019, and said America has given him so much: his