Arizona Votes: Durety Biramo

Durety Biramo outside the Tempe History Museum.

Photo by Kassandra Alvarez

By Kassandra Alvarez

November 3, 2020

For Durety Biramo, voting in 2020 is “like history in the making.” As a first-generation American, born to immigrant parents, she and her family all understand the impact of their vote.

Her family, originally from Ethiopia, migrated to Minnesota, where Durety was raised. She moved to Arizona two years ago, and today, she is excited about voting and having the opportunity to say she “doesn’t support the current leader.”

“As I voted today, I thought of my parents who migrated 20 years ago,” shared Durety, hoping other voters vote for their community, for minorities, and the formerly incarcerated.

Prop 207, legalization of marijuana, is one she hopes it passes in Arizona. “This could be one step closer to solving the opioid health problem,” suggested Durety. Her concern with drug addiction as a public health problem and how it impacts incarceration numbers and how it can impact the future of American society.

“I decided to go back to school and possibly go into behavioral health,” she added, as she felt that would be the best way for her to help in addition to voting for policies impacting this issue.

Her vote reflects her family and her community.