Do you vote and why or why not? What do you think about voter apathy and should there be mandatory voting? Do you vote for competition TV shows?
Connor Miles
Pharmaceutical Sales Major
“No, at least not this time. I just turned 19. It’s just never been a thing of mine. I don’t know, I’m not really big into politics and I just don’t really care. As long as the general population has an idea, that’s where it’s going to go, it’s always going to go one way or the other. There are very few cases where there’s a swing vote. I don’t think everyone has to [vote]. I think only the people that actually keep up to date with the politics should—the people that actually care. . . [My vote] matters if I’m voting and if I know a large majority are voting the same way as me, but if I’m the only one that’s going one way, and everyone else is going the other, it doesn’t matter. I don’t really care about [the TV shows].”
Brittany Juhas
Biology Major
“Yes, because I think it’s important that if you’re given the opportunity to vote for somebody that has huge impact on your everyday life, I think that’s an important freedom that we have. I don’t think it should be mandatory, I think that everybody should be entitled to practice [apathy] if they like. No [to the TV shows]. I really don’t watch any of those shows, that’s why it doesn’t really hold importance to me…I think it’s important for people to vote, but if somebody doesn’t vote, then that’s really their own prerogative. I think it’s a little bit harder to have a leg to stand on when you have certain opinions about something. Whether you agree or disagree with whoever’s in power, with what they’re doing, if you didn’t vote, then it’s kind of hard to back that opinion up, because I think that it’s important that you do make a difference. If you do vote, it gives you more of an opportunity to voice your opinion.”
Layton Ramsey
Computer Aided Manufacturing Major
“No because I think it’s pointless, to be honest. I think the popular vote is just for show, to just give the voters more of an opportunity to think they’re doing something when they’re not. No I do not [think voting should be mandatory]. [I don’t vote] unless it’s a union.”
Reporting and Photos by Maggie Stacey