The 2024 presidential election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, between Democratic party leader and current Vice President Kamala Harris, who is looking to pick up where President Biden left off. The Republican party leader and former President Donald Trump is looking to make a return as President of the United States. For many university students, this will be the first presidential election they will participate in.
According to 270ToWin, the polls show that most states are tied between Trump and Harris. There were also small hints of a gray line indicating the support of a third party. Each state has a different poll result, but the national one shows that Harris is in the lead of the general election by 1.6%. States like Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio are currently in favor of Trump by a wide margin. States like New York, New Jersey, California and Minnesota are supporting Harris. Pennsylvania, a swing state, is tied at 48.2%.
Americans across the country are concerned about the prospective president’s various policies, particularly in areas such as the environment, the economy, reproductive rights and issues surrounding the Canadian and Mexican borders. In the past week, The Pace Press conducted a survey with questions about the upcoming election. More than 40 students shared their unfiltered thoughts and opinions, as well as their motivations for voting.
Most of the students surveyed who plan on voting in this election expressed the need to have their voices heard. For some students, democracy is at stake, while others are more concerned about the state of the economy. Some expressed that they were motivated to vote because it is their civic duty, while others believed their vote doesn’t make much of a difference in the election outcome.
“I voted early for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they understand basic human rights and look towards the future rather than reverting to outdated policies. No one is perfect, but my vote goes towards them, as I don’t feel my rights are at risk with them in office,” said Hillary Clark, a Junior at the University double majoring in film & screen studies and directing.
All of the students who participated in the poll emphasized the importance of their issues and what they mean to them. Out of nine possible options, 84.4% of respondents chose Social Justice and Equality as one of the most important issues.
The bulk of the students in the survey expressed that they will be voting for Kamala Harris because of her policies on women’s reproductive rights. Harris voters also feel that she will enforce better environmental policy and create a positive change in social justice. Lastly, numerous students stated they would rather have Harris in office than deal with four more years under Trump.
Despite the majority of respondents stating that they will be voting for Harris, a small group of students in the survey expressed concern about the state of the economy and, therefore, believe that Trump should be the chosen candidate. These students also cited his foreign policies from his previous term, which they viewed as favorable. Another small portion of respondents also discussed voting for third-party candidates, such as Jill Stein, Chase Oliver or Claudia De La Cruz.
As the 2024 election approaches, university students are feeling the weight of this critical decision. For many, it represents their first opportunity to participate in a presidential election and a moment to voice their concerns on issues that directly impact their futures. While the polls nationwide show a close race, responses from the newspaper’s survey clearly show that Harris is the more popular candidate among the University’s student body.
