In pursuit of a ballot, five freshmen take 19-hour road trip to Fla.

Five teenagers. One car. Plenty of snacks. People squabbling over radio stations. Miles of highway.

All these elements came together starting Monday night as a group of University students embarked on a road trip to Florida.

But this was no ordinary road trip. Ordinary trips don't involve a group of students traveling thousands of miles so that one of them can cast a single vote.

The story began when Alison Hess '08 tried unsuccessfully to get an absentee ballot from Florida after having applied for one in June.

During the week before the election, Hess' mother had made daily visits to the Palm Beach County elections office, hoping to get a ballot for her daughter.

But it was the night before the election and Hess had still not received her absentee ballot.

Understandably upset, she complained to her friends at dinner, all of whom were sympathetic and outraged on her behalf.

The plan was first articulated when Theodore Ellis '08 joked, "We should just drive you down to Palm Beach County and make sure you get to vote."

Though it started as a joke, it quickly evolved into a serious plan.

The group did the math for the trip — a 19-hour drive and polls closed at 8 p.m. the following day. It was definitely possible. But could it be done?

When Katharine Brandes '08 announced she had a car parked off-campus, all five students swung into action. After throwing a few necessities into a bag and contacting professors and coaches, the group hit the road.

And circumstances seemed favorable for their mission to succeed. Classmates were willing to submit their essays and professors encouraged the trip.

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For the four students accompanying Alison, the decision to make the journey was a matter of principle. Brandes and Luke Goodwin '08 had already voted in California and Virginia, respectively, with absentee ballots.

Johnson and Ellis — both registered in New Jersey — were willing to give up their votes to get Hess to Florida.

"I don't believe that Jersey's a swing state and Florida definitely is. Alison's vote is a lot more important," said Ellis.

"If nothing else, it'll be a big political adventure," Johnson added. "They've screwed everything up so we're going to protest in person."

Hess' reason for the trip was more personal than political. She said she "felt that it was just something that she should do."

For the five freshmen, the long drive down to Florida was full of excitement. What with Brandes' wallet getting lost at a McDonalds on the way, Johnson receiving a speeding ticket and men in Corvettes trying to race them, the students had an eventful night.

By Tuesday morning, news of the students' adventure had spread across campus.

College Democrats, for example, decided to make an informal request at their election party Tuesday to chip in for gas money.

Posters appeared on campus stating, "Five freshmen drove down to Florida to vote. What did you do today? 2nd November, 2004."

Jay Saxon, president of the College Democrats, was extremely enthusiastic about the group's journey.

"I think it's incredible because it shows a great commitment to democracy, no matter what their political affiliation is. It's just sad that the voting system is so broken that people have to drive 2,300 miles across the country in order to exercise their franchise," he said.

After driving nearly 20 hours, Hess and her friends reached the Florida polls by 5 p.m. Tuesday, where she was able to cast her vote. Having accomplished their goal, the five students began to prepare for the long drive home.

They have Wednesday classes to attend.