As voters flowed in and out of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, where two polling places were set up Tuesday for the election, the result of an exhaustive campaign was on full display.
Caitlyn Dory, a second year psychology major, said she felt scared voting for her first time.
Leading up to the election, she said she and her family experienced a rift over their preferred candidates. She chose to vote separately from them.
“I didn’t want to make the wrong choice,” Dory said. “They will be disappointed in my vote.”
Without sharing who she voted for, Dory said the main motivation for her was the hope that the country would do better and not have to worry.
Corey Larkins, a first year marketing major, was not shy about who he voted for in his first election.
Larkins said he felt former President Donald Trump was racist and sexist, and he did not understand how people could vote for a twice-impeached candidate.
In recent days, the Trump campaign has tried to reach young men to encourage them to vote. The night before the election, popular podcast host Joe Rogan, who boasts a large young male following, endorsed the former president.
While Larkins hasn’t spoken with many of his friends about the election, he said he felt like an outlier.
“I’ve yet to talk to a man that’s my age that’s voting for Kamala,” he said.
Sa Nai Russel, a freshman studio art major, said she sees a stark difference between the two candidates. Despite those differences, she said she felt nervous going into her polling place as a first-time voter.
“I remember when I was younger, I was like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to vote.’ Now I’m like, ‘Dang, I’ve got to vote,’” she said.
Many of her friends feel the same, Russel added. Some even chose not to vote, blaming frustrations with the choice of candidates.
“I’d rather vote than not vote,” Russel said. “I feel like it’s counterproductive to not vote.”
Jessica Smith, a first year political science major, couldn’t hide her enthusiasm as she waited for a shuttle from her polling place.
Smith said she felt it was extra important for her to vote because Black women have not always had the right to participate in elections.
“It feels amazing,” Smith said. “This is a very unprecedented election, and I just never thought that my first year eligible that I would be able to vote in the first Black, female president of the United States.”
Alton Northup is news director. Contact him at [email protected].
