Registered Voters at Share Motivations Ahead of Tuesday’s Election
By: Rithvik Hari, Mason Votes Contributor
During the September 2025 special election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, only 138 ballots were cast out of 2,132 registered voters in Mason’s precinct, a voter turnout of just 6.4%
With another statewide election approaching on Nov. 4, some students are reflecting on the importance of civic participation and why they plan to vote.
Senior Matthew Webster said voting helps ensure that elected officials understand the needs and values of their constituents. “In order to govern, elected officials need a sense of what the people in their communities want and what their values are. One way that they get this picture is through elections, which show what politicians and initiatives people want badly enough to support at the polls. Even if an election is not very competitive, showing the winner what you want means they are more likely to listen to you even if they aren’t who you voted for.”
Junior Alia Daniels highlighted the importance of participation itself. “I think voting is important. If people don’t vote then change will be impossible to accomplish,” Daniels said.
Senior Adam Cook shared that his motivation to vote comes from protecting institutions and limiting government overreach. “I’m voting to protect our university and others from political scrutiny, as well as to protect the state of VA and Americans from federal overreach,” Cook said.
The November 4th election will have a direct effect on the Mason community. The governor of Virginia appoints members of the university’s Board of Visitors, which serves as Mason’s governing body. Voters will also choose the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and delegates representing their districts in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Freshmen Montgomery Vanik and Caleb Beaver both emphasized civic engagement as their reason for voting. “I am voting to be an active member in American democracy and society,” Vanik said. “I am doing my civic duty by voting,” Beaver added.
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Remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 4th!
Make sure to look up your assigned polling place so you show up at the right place on Election Day: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/polling-place-lookup
Students who registered to vote using their Fairfax on-campus housing address can cast their ballots at Merten Hall. Click here to learn more >
Polls open at 6am and close at 7pm. Voters who are in line by 7pm will still be allowed to vote.
If you missed the voter registration deadline (Oct. 24), you can still vote at your home precinct by utilizing same day registration. Click here to learn more about same-day voter registration and provisional ballots >
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Slider Photo by: Mitchell Richtmyre