We at the Life Section know how stressful the upcoming election can be for students, as it has been one of the biggest topics discussed by many this year. More importantly, we wanted to understand how students were feeling before the election. Are they nervous? Excited? Weary? I ran a survey asking students the same questions, and their answers are available in this article.
To clarify, this survey does not include all students and includes responses by members of the Life Section. The words presented here are just representative of those who filled out the survey, not of every student on campus. Likewise, all responses were anonymous.
Of the 25 students who responded, 92% said they would be voting in the upcoming election. 4% said they wouldn’t be and another 4% are still considering voting. When asked to explain the decision to vote, students gave many answers:
“I am voting because I feel as it is my civic duty to do so, as well as have a voice in the future decision-making of my town, state and nation.”
“Your vote is crucial to society, even living in a state knowing my vote has no ramifications on the presidential election, whether it is blue or red, it is important to vote down ballot for local elections that can affect your everyday life.”
“It is my civic duty to vote and use my voice to have an impact in the future of the country — which is my country.”
“I believe it is incredibly important to vote, especially for young voters who in the past elections have had lower turnout rates than older voters. This is a particularly important election, with a lot of incredibly important issues on the line (abortions, climate change, etc.) and I want to vote for what I believe in.”
When asked how the upcoming election makes them feel, 24% said they are nervous. One response said: “The upcoming election makes me feel excited but also a bit worried at the same time. I’m excited because this is my first election I am eligible to vote in but also, it’s a bit scary at how close the race between the two candidates seem to be when in my opinion, there is an obvious good choice and a not so good choice that shouldn’t even be allowed to run based on their everything. But I hope in the end it all works out.”
Students who filled out the survey had the option to leave their contact information for a follow-up interview. I reached out to those that did and got to read their thought-out replies to my questions (I was unable to conduct in-person interviews, so these replies were via email).
Aranav Pandey, from Cheshire, Connecticut, will be voting for the first time in this upcoming election, and had some thoughts to share with students who are hesitant to vote. “We now have the ability to influence the path our nation takes. It’s pertinent that we use this ability before it’s too late. As citizens of this nation, we have a right, but more so a duty, to vote. In fact, this election will decide our direct future. Many of us can go to UConn because of the financial support of the government.” said Pandey.
“This election decides whether the governmental institutions that support us will exist or not. Project 2025 plans to dismantle the Department of Education, the very institution that provides the grants, financial aid and funding to our students and university. Our vote in this election determines whether we can graduate with degrees or drop out with debt. I think most students do not understand the gravity of the situation. No, both parties are not the same. Your vote matters! Go vote!”
A common theme that I have noticed with the responses to the survey is that while people are nervous about the election, they are doing something about that stress and going to vote. Managing Editor of the Daily Campus, Connor Lafferty, from West Hartford, Connecticut, answered the questions as well. “I don’t feel like many of my peers are very weary or nervous. Although I have one friend at UConn who comes from Georgia and they’re more nervous than other people I’ve spoken to. I think that’s mostly because their vote is more of the underdog voice within their state.”
Another question on the survey asked why they think it is important for students to vote. The replies were insightful; here are some:
“It is super important for students to vote! Especially as young people, we should be informed on issues going on in our country and the world and do what we can to stand up for what we believe in, and voting is a way of doing that.” Another student wrote, “I think it’s important for everyone to vote because it allows for the choices of people to be acknowledged. When people don’t vote, the winner is not the one most people want, but the one that the few who voted want.”
With a presidential election, it is normal to feel weary, anxious and even excited. This election will lead the path to our next four years with the chosen candidate as the president, and their decisions will shape our future.
This is not a political section, and it is not the News Section either, but it is the Life Section: We write about students’ interests and discuss their lives at UConn. The upcoming election will have a large impact on student life, and that is why we feel that it is important to speak to students and get their thoughts on the matter. Thank you to all who filled out the survey and to those who answered the follow-up questions. I sincerely appreciate your participation.