Your Voice, Your Vote: How WSUV Students Are Approaching the Midterm Elections

With the midterm election quickly approaching, there are a number of thoughts and feelings weighing on the minds of students at WSUV. The VanCougar spoke with students on campus to see what their primary political concerns were.  

Engagement in the election can be measured on a broad spectrum. When prompted with a scale of one through five, WSUV student, Sophia, said, “I would rate my engagement with the election at a three, but to be totally honest, I feel really frustrated with politics right now.”

Stephanie, a junior majoring in English, said that her interest in the midterms rests at about a one. She feels that the current political climate is “crappy,” and she shared that the choices on the ballot make her feel “very nervous.”  

Alex, another WSUV student, reported that he tracks the midterms very closely, ranking his interest at about a four. When asked about his thoughts on it so far, he stated that he felt immense frustration and anxiety surrounding the election.  

There are a variety of different issues at the forefront of this election for college students. For Stephanie, her “number one concern right now is purely financial,” she stated. “Specifically, how much money will be given to me from FAFSA.”  

Sophia is most focused on the economy. She shared that economic stress, inflation, and the cost of living are her top concerns during this election.  

Alex is concerned about protecting human rights. He stated that, “as a college student, my focus is set on protecting immigrants in the United States and ending our involvement in Iran.”   

When asked about the factors keeping many college students from voting during elections, interviewees pointed towards a mix of logistical hurdles and voter confusion.   

Sophia and Alex both believe that accessibility and lack of resources primarily push students away from participating in elections. Alex reported that many students lack the time needed to fill out a ballot and drop it off. Sophia shared that polling site accessibility is an issue that many college students must overcome.  

Stephanie offered a much harsher critique of the election system. She believes that a main deterrent for student voters is the fear of “people buying votes.”  

Campaign advertisements seen on many popular streaming and social media platforms appear to be a divisive issue among WSUV students. Stephanie shared that while the number of ads she sees is often annoying, they motivate her to vote and influence which candidate she votes for.  

Sophia had a very neutral opinion of these political advertisements. She said, “Most of the time, I find the ads to be entirely forgettable. They have no effect on my opinions about the candidates or the midterms in general.”  

Alex shared that while political advertisements generally do not influence his vote, “they do make me aware of the political propaganda involved.”  

The voting priorities at the forefront of the minds of WSUV students illuminate the challenges faced by a generation navigating a complex political landscape. The diverse perspectives present on campus show that students find importance in the midterm election and the effect it has on their futures.  

There are many resources on campus to help students overcome the challenge of getting to the polls. WSUV’s official on-campus ballot deposit location makes voting easy and accessible for students. To access more information about available ballot drop-box locations and hours, students can check the Clark County Elections portal.