Election virgins

Students excited to vote for the very first time

By: Lidia Ryan

Posted: 11/3/08

First-time voters on campus are excited to exercise their right to vote and make a difference in the presidential election.

This election will be the first time most UConn students will be old enough to vote, and many are looking at it as a chance to make their opinions matter.

"I'm a 19-year-old whose voice isn't normally heard," said Allan Costa, a 5th-semester pre-pharmacy major.

Lauren Ellis, a 7th-semester English and communications double major and president of the UConn College Democrats, will be voting for the first time in a presidential election this year. She is excited, having worked for Barack Obama's campaign for over a year now.

"It's going to be a rush," Ellis said. "Nov. 4, for me, is 18 months in the making. It's one of the moments I'm truly looking forward to thus far in my life."

Jennifer Miller, the president of the UConn College Republicans and a 7th-semester biology major, said she is also looking forward to voting for the first time.

"The youth vote will outshine everyone else," she said. "People are very emotional about it. I feel honored to be able to vote. I've been looking forward to this since I turned 18."

Jeffrey Ladewig, assistant professor of political science, said that many young people are eager to vote.

"Across the country, young adults are sensing an opportunity to change the direction of the country," he said. "They can make a real difference in this election."

Kathryn Heinzer, a 5th-semester mechanical engineering major said, "so many people before us fought to give us the right that I feel that every U.S. citizen is obligated to vote. I'm excited, but I'm also nervous that I won't make the right decision."

Kenneth Dautrich, an associate professor of public policy, said that the youth vote could have a significant impact on the election. He said there has been a surge of new voter registration, and that the polls show most young voters supporting Obama. The issue is whether or not they will actually vote, he said.

Dautrich said many young people voted in the primaries, but interest may have declined.

Dautrich said he has noticed that, in his public policy class this year, students are more vocal about politics.

"There is much more interest and participation," he said. "Students are much more willing to say what they support than they have been in the past."

Miller said she has noticed that because they are surrounded by people with similar beliefs, students who are part of the UConn College Republicans voice their opinions about the election more than those who are not politically involved.

"Most people draw the line at just saying who they are voting for," Miller said. "People keep quiet, especially if they are Republicans on a liberal campus."

Ladewig and Dautrich both said they believe students are well-informed on the issues. For many students, the biggest issue is the economy because they are concerned that there will not be jobs available when they graduate.

"Where the economy is right now will affect our future, so it needs to be fixed soon," said Alyssa Kane, a 5th-semester English major.

Miller is also concerned with fixing economic problems.

"As a graduating senior, I am concerned, of course, about finding a job and keeping one," she said.

UConn PIRG registers students to vote every year. But PIRG member Ryan Morris, a 1st-semester political science major, said that because there is a presidential election this year, students are more eager to register.

Morris said going door-to-door to register people is usually successful because many students want to register, but don't have time to go to town hall. It is convenient to be able to register it right in their dorm rooms, he said. Morris said he has only encountered one or two people who did not want to register.

"Some people are too lazy," he said.

Two other groups that recruit students to vote are the UConn College Democrats and the UConn College Republicans. Both groups have been setting up tables around campus where students can register. They will also be busing people to the Mansfield Community Center to vote tomorrow.