Students Ready to Make a Difference in Upcoming Election

Story by: Katherine Brown

With the 2024 election quickly approaching, students are getting ready or have already cast their ballots, many for the first time. With so much at stake, the pressure is high to get as many people as possible to vote, which includes young people who generally have a lower turnout compared to older generations.  

Some young voters are eager to vote as they have been waiting a while until they are eligible to vote. Freshman, Samantha Krawczyk’s 18th birthday is just days before the Nov. 5 election. She has been interested in politics since the 2012 election and is excited to take part in this election.  

Not everyone is as interested in politics as her, which is why campus organizations like the College Democrats and Central Votes have been helping students get registered and make a plan to vote. Krawczyk said it can be a tough conversation to have when people don’t care about politics but you have to do it.

Addison Bentley, a freshman, majoring in political science has been passionate about politics, especially after participating in mock elections growing up in school.  

“Having a choice and knowing I have a say in what is going on in this country and I don’t want to take it for granted,” Bentley said.  

Bentley said she felt a little nervous especially when she was first starting to do research on voting as she felt there were not a lot of resources to know how to vote and she had to do a lot of research to learn more.  

Compared to many other eligible voter’s, college students have to plan how they will cast their ballot, as many live far from home. Whether that be voting by mail, absentee ballot, or early voting. They also have the choice of whether or not they want to register to vote in their home counties or at their school.  

Sophomore, Sky Austin, is from Maryland and she had to make a difficult decision about which state she wanted to vote in. She said it was tough to decide since Michigan is a swing state, however, she also wants to ensure that the Senate remains blue which led her to decide to vote in her home county.  

Students like Krawczyk, Bentley, and Austin are proving that young voters can make a big difference. Despite obstacles, their commitment to voting highlights a rising understanding of how much their voices matter. With ongoing efforts to increase student turnout, their influence in this election could be greater than ever.