The President has been decided, but young voters are still talking about the presidential election. Undecided
“They should have known coming into this election the mail in ballots would be a lot more popular due to COVID-19,” said Aaron Ross, a Michigan State University student. “We should have been prepared and ready to receive and count each ballot properly and ensure everything is correct on time.”
A ballot drop box location in Commerce Township. One of the many drop box locations in Oakland County that can be dropped in. Credit: Lance Limbo
November in Michigan means many things each year: turning our clocks back one hour, the magical color changes in our leaves, and on those rare four year occasions, the change in the face of a nation. Election Tuesday on Nov. 3rd saw six different buildings on MSU’s campus turn into polling stations for the day. But whether voting at the Union, Brody Cafe or even at I.M. West, there were no lines to be seen. COVID-19 caused the largest proportion of Americans in the history of our election process to vote via mail this year.
Thomas Gorman graduated in the spring from Okemos High School. After spending four years there, he knew there were some changes he wanted to see. So, he decided to do something about it. Gorman ran for the Okemos School Board in this election. Not only was this his first time on the ballot, but this was also the first general election he was eligible to vote in.
After weeks of hearing that polling places would be crowded, dangerous and contentious, some voters in East Lansing, Detroit and Shiawassee County who decided to chancve it were pleasantly surprised. They said voting precincts were ready for them, lines were short or organized to move swiftly and they felt safe from COVID-19.
MSUvote’s foundation is built on reaching out to student voters and getting them to perform in their civic duty.
MSUvote is a nonpartisan group that tells students that their vote counts and is important and that voting is a great way to have your voice heard and make an impact.
Co-chair of the MSU vote coalition Renee Brown reaches out to the student voters, even if most on-campus classes are down. Brown said that the main focus is to get as many people as possible to register to vote.
“Registration, Education, Participation,” said Brown. “The whole focus is that the students have the information that they need.”
2020 has been a year of unprecedented events, and to top it off we have an election with much on the line including the economy, climate change, health care, civil rights, racial justice, the U.S. Supreme Court and others.
In 2016 candidate Donald Trump won Michigan by a handful of votes, but in 2020 Michigan seems to be leaning toward becoming a blue state. In DeWitt, the opinions of the candidates about the future of the country differ.
One student at DeWitt High School poured out her concern about candidate Trump being re-elected. “I really don’t see how anyone could vote for that man. He’s a liar,” said Izabella Moore, 16. “The biggest issues that concern me are abortion rights, climate change, better health care amid a pandemic, and most importantly racial justice since I’m half Black, but I feel like the president doesn’t do anything for the issues I care about.
Gordon Trowbridge, spokesman for Slotkin’s re-election campaign, said from a campaign standpoint, he has noticed a difference this year in public participation. Trowbridge said it seems like voters are aware this is a big moment for Michigan because a lot of national issues addressed can also have a significant impact on a local level. For example, concerns about medical costs and water quality is at the top of that list.
“What was successful for Slotkin in 2018 and so far this year, was to be pragmatic toward these issues,” he said. “Slotkin has said participating in the choice-making is one of the most important symbols to show love for the country.”
Slotkin decided before voting took place to publicly endorse Democrat Joe Biden in the year’s primary.
Infographic listing some of the candidates and topics voters may have seen on their ballot. Credit: Lauren Buchko
Trowbridge said he has definitely noticed a higher turnout during campaign events. “Slotkin realizes there’s a lot of attention on Michigan during the primaries,” he said. “It’s kind of like a ‘ground zero’ when it comes to a campaign.”
Representing the district
Trowbridge said it’s quite a bit of work for Slotkin to represent Michigan while in Washington D.C. because of the complicated schedule, but she works to represent as best as she can.
With the 2020 presidential election top of mind, some Meridian Township residents said they want a leader with a strong moral compass and who will improve the health care system.
Sarah Howard, a Meridian Township resident, said even though she doesn’t keep up with the candidates’ positions, she wants to see a huge change. “I don’t think our healthcare system makes any sense,” said Howard. “I appreciate that we are trying to move toward a socialized health care system, but I do not think the current system makes financial sense.”
Howard is also concerned that social media may become a greater issue with the next leader elected in office. She wishes media would report on more real issues instead of hot topics. Howard said: “I think most of the other changes I want to see are more social than something that has to do directly with the presidency.
Young voters will go to this year’s polls with information they’ve obtained through their experiences, their peers and maybe even their parents. Will they follow their parents, or rebel? Christopher Ojeda, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, studies that. He did a study called “Accounting for the Child in the Transmission of Party Identification,” in 2015. He said household party affiliation can make it easier for young voters to decide. But affiliations might not be helpful in this Democratic primary.
“In a general election when there are two candidates … it’s kind of easy for kids to use the party identification to make decisions about who to support,” he said.
