Story co-reported with Jessica Posa.
Voting season is notorious for evoking strong public opinions, and twenty randomly selected Western Carolina University students proved no differently.
Student responses were generally vague when asked what the 2020 elections meant to them.
“To be honest not much, but I know that I should care,” WCU sophomore, Bryce Mitchell, said.
For others, 2020 means the chance to have their voice heard for the first time.
WCU junior, Owen Schnitzler, said he feels excited about the 2020 election because it will be the first time he is voting in a national election.
The 2020 primary elections are approaching fast and voting will take place on March 3 in North Carolina as part of Super Tuesday when 11 primaries will be held.
Students expressed some of the most important issues that will send them to the polls in March.
“Well, honestly I think it’s good to have good border security, good LGBT rights, and just modify our gun stances right now – don’t eliminate them completely, just make them better,” WCU junior, Cole Cushman, said.
In addition to gun laws, students were also passionate about climate change regulations, immigration policies, and state abortion rulings.
Most students explained that they were registered to vote back in their hometown. This is a common issue with student voting because it requires them to fill out an absentee ballot through the mail.
Students registered to vote in Jackson County can now cast their ballot at the University Center on WCU’s campus.
Although this can be a challenging process for first-time voters, the college vote is viewed by other generations as an essential part of democracy.
Colin Townsend, Communications Liaison for the WCU Honors College, said, “I think this next generation coming up has got a lot of really important stuff on their plate.”
Townsend believes that it is important to start voting when you are young, so that your voice will always be heard.
Carrie Hachadurian, Student Development Coordinator for the WCU Center for Career and Professional Development, agreed with Townsend that the student population’s vote is integral to the voting process.
Hachadurian added that students should do their research before voting.
“Not just checking boxes, but actually putting in the time to do the research and figuring out what is important to you the student and finding a candidate that matches your priorities.”
Hear more from the twenty students in the video below.
