King’s Students Discuss the Midterm Elections
Midterm elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 8. when states will hold gubernatorial elections as well as other state and local elections.
This election season is especially important to college-age voters even though it is not a presidential election. The House is predicted to flip from a Democrat majority to a Republican. A shift in the majority party in the House would directly affect the policies that would pass through Congress. There would be fewer progressive policies, such as those concerning abortion, climate change and gun control, and more conservative policies such as those regarding immigration and violent crime, set into action.
Empire State Television reporter, Parker Waites, interviewed students at The King’s College about their experiences and views on the upcoming elections.
“I think that with us being young college students and going into the world next, I think it's great that we get the opportunity to voice our opinions,” said Anna Turner, a sophomore originally from California. “I think that, at least with my state, with different issues arising and feeling so strong on one side, it's great for people to vote.”
Madilyn Atcovitz, a senior originally from Pennsylvania, said, “It gives the government a good idea on what the people want for smaller legislatures but then on the federal level, giving them a good idea on how they’re doing in the presidency.”
Voters must participate in this election to ensure that the policies they would not like to see sidelined become law. Swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are especially important.
“I’m not exactly Republican and not exactly a Democrat. I’m still figuring it out,” said Philip Molestina, a senior originally from Kentucky. “So I think it’s important for me to get to know what I stand for and my beliefs.”
College students who moved from their home states must consider whether they should change their voter registration to the state they study in or continue voting in their home state. Many college voters request absentee ballots from their respective states or participate in universal mail-in voting. Still, the process is not always clear.
“I was unable to vote in the presidential election of 2020 because they sent my ballot to the wrong place,” said Aidan Kurth, a sophomore originally from California. “It was too late for me to try to get another ballot sent to New York City. It’s happening again. My ballot just got sent to my childhood home again. I have done everything I can to fix the situation. Hence, why I’m trying to change my voter registration to New York State so I can be able to vote.”
To find a polling site near you, visit voterlookup.elections.ny.gov
Myrian Garcia is the Managing Editor at the Empire State Tribune. She is a senior studying Journalism, Culture and Society and is an intern at Religion Unplugged.