The students of COMM 145 (Newspaper Workshop I) interviewed a range of students on Mason’s Fairfax campus earlier this week ahead of today’s historic midterm elections.
Students were asked what issues are most important to them and who they planned to vote for on Tuesday, November 6th. Here is what Mason students on campus had to say:
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Autumn Tornetta, Freshman, English
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. If you don’t vote you don’t have a right to complain.”
Top three issues:
- Health Care (“care about people”)
- Immigration
- Abortion
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Couldn’t vote.
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Be more involved.”
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Ian Warman, Freshman, Music Education
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. I care a lot about politics.”
Top three issues:
- Immigration (“my sister is an adopted immigrant”)
- Gun Control (“people are losing their lives”)
- Health Care
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Couldn’t vote.
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Because its our country, too.”
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Anonymous, Senior, Computer Science
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. Vote if you feel like it.”
Top three issues:
- Legalizing Marijuana (“why not?”)
- Abortion (“protect babies”)
- Minimum Wage (“should be lower”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Matt Waters (L)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Jill Stein (G)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “To not get drafted.”
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Brianna Broks, Freshman, Creative Writing
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes, because who is currently in office should not be in office again.”
Top three issues:
- Equal Rights (“For both men and women. I want all genders to be on the same playing field.”)
- Environment (“Without it, where will we live?”)
- Immigration (“We are a country of immigrants, everyone should have the same rights.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Undecided.
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Undecided.
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Couldn’t vote.
Why is it important for young people to vote? “We are the next generation to be walking on this earth so why not make it a good earth to walk on?”
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Richa Malhotra, Junior, Cyber Security/Engineering
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. I feel like it’s important to vote; every vote counts.”
Top three issues:
- Women’s Rights (“Women should have the right to chose whether they want an abortion or not.”)
- Immigration (“We are a country of immigrants, everyone should have the same rights.”)
- No response
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Every vote counts.”
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Karion Goree, Senior, Criminology
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. [It’s an] important election.”
Top three issues:
- Social Issues (“Establishing more decency in our culture.”)
- Health Care (“As many Americans as possible [should] have decent health care.”)
- Criminal Justice Reform (“Important that we are locking up the actual criminals.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Undecided.
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “It is our future, not to be left in the hands of people who wont see it all.”
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Giorgio Castiglia, Non-Traditional
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes.”
Top three issues:
- Economy (“Important for people to be prosperous.”)
- Personal Freedom (“People who want to do something should have the ability.”)
- No response.
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Undecided.
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Gary Johnson (L)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Discuss why they vote, how it is counted, and understanding the logistics.”
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Mohammed Hussin, Junior, Communication
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. I am doing it because people tell me every vote counts.”
Top three issues:
- Student Tuition (“For future generations, get as many people educated.”)
- Immigration (“Make the whole process more easy and efficient.”)
- Health Care (“People do not go to doctor because of lack of insurance.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Every vote counts making sure young people get as many votes as possible.”
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Melissa Carroll, Junior, Criminology
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. Midterm elections are important too. It is your right so you should exercise it and it sets a precedent for the next presidential election.”
Top three issues:
- Climate Change (“I have done a lot of research in college and high school, our age changes it and impacts everyone.”)
- Immigration (“Laws are always subject to change and it impacts people every day.”)
- Sexual Assault/Women’s Rights (“As a woman, I should be able to vote and it is an important topic in society more than ever.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “In general, it is more important to hear our voice as the younger generation. The laws and policies will impact us especially.”
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Anonymous, Senior, Computer Science
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. It’s important because the Left is taking over.”
Top three issues:
- Gun Control
- Borders (“The caravan is coming.”)
- Fighting Socialism
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Corey Stewart (R)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Not sure.
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Donald Trump (R)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “It’s important for everyone to vote.”
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Shreya Bhatia, Junior, Computer Science
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. Because I think the election and other elections show that is important to vote in all elections.”
Top three issues:
- Gun Violence (“It sucks to see all these people being hurt [when the] president makes excuses.”)
- Women’s Rights (“Probably one of the most important things is not getting the right to chose what happens to their bodies.”)
- LGBTQ Rights (“I think that specifically there’s been a lot of hate towards them recently.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Hillary Clinton (D)
Why is it important for young people to vote? “I think that’s because they are the people who are going to run the country.”
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Eric Ratliff, Freshman, Undeclared
Do you plan to vote on Election Day? Why or why not? “Yes. My family has always been involved with politics, I want to do my part.”
Top three issues:
- LGBTQ Rights (“I am bisexual myself, so it is a very personal experience.”)
- Immigration (“No person is illegal, its just the whole concept is something I’m not comfortable with.”)
- Abortion (“Proper access is important. My aunt had to get an illegal abortion.”)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in the US Senate race? Tim Kaine (D)
Which candidate do you plan to vote for in your House district race? Jennifer Wexton (D-VA 10th)
Which candidate did you vote for in the 2016 presidential election? Didn’t vote.
Why is it important for young people to vote? “Because turnout among young voters, when not enough young people are voting its important for them to convince others and vote themselves.”
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