ALBANY PARK — Katie Damato didn't know what to expect when she headed to the polls Tuesday morning — because she'd never voted before.
For the 20-year-old Albany Park resident, casting her first ballot was even more meaningful with her mom, Diane, at her side.
"I'm just blessed that her and I got to do this together," Diane said as the two left the polling place at Our Lady of Mercy, 4432 N. Troy St.
The younger Damato admitted to some early jitters and concerns about how electronic voting would work, given how glitchy technology can be.
"I felt better doing the paper ballot," she said.
Both mother and daughter said they were proud to have a woman on the ballot for president, but they were equally displeased with the way Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump ran their campaigns.
"They were so busy calling each other names, it was embarrassing on both sides," the elder Damato said.
"I would have liked to see them talk, instead of arguing and bashing each other," she said. "I hated this election. ... We're just inundated with all these negatives."
For her part, Katie said she questioned whether her vote would make a difference.
"It's been so disappointing, seeing what this country has come to," she said. "All the hate, the division, even in my own family."
Ultimately, she decided the election was too important to sit out.
"Whatever the outcome is, it's going to be historic," she said. "It will be a big change for the U.S. whoever wins."
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