'It was worth it': Durham native living in DC takes late-night odyssey to cast ballot

Emily Miller, who works for a nonpartisan political nonprofit, expected her absentee ballot to be in her mailbox Monday night. But by 7 p.m., as the ballot was still MIA, she took matters into her own hands.

"I guess it's time to check the bus schedule," she joked. "I made myself dinner and threw some stuff in a backpack."

Miller bought a one-way bus ticket to Durham and a plane ticket for the trip back.

She left Washington at around 11 p.m. and arrived in Durham around 5 a.m.

"I only got about two hours of sleep, but it was worth it," she said.

Miller said she credits her mom, who is her biggest inspiration, for getting her into politics.

"She instilled in me a passion for not just voting, but for being a part of the process and the conversation," she said.

Miller said she made the trip to give a voice to the voiceless and to those who have lost their lives by exercising their right to vote.

"People try to come here to better their lives and they’re treated so poorly...I want to be a voice for those people," she said.

By law, a person can vote outside of their home county as long as they have the intention to return.

Miller graduated from college in May.