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Off-campus voters talk 2016 election

November 8, 2016
A family, including a first time voter, looks at a sample ballot on Nov. 8, 2016 in Hannah Community Center.
A family, including a first time voter, looks at a sample ballot on Nov. 8, 2016 in Hannah Community Center. —
Photo by Emilia McConnell | The State News

Lansing residents and MSU students lined up toward the end of the day Tuesday to vote in the 2016 presidential election.

Environmental economics and management junior Madeline Dilley said it was the first election she's ever voted in. She registered on campus earlier this semester at the Union, but said voting was a very hard decision.

“For this being my first election, it couldn’t have been a harder decision," Dilley said. "Everybody says it’s choosing the lesser of two evils but it was kind of stressful, but it’s cool to be a part of it and the fact that I have my own voice and I get to choose.”

She said she appreciated the privilege of being able to vote. Nursing senior Madison Schweikhart said her decision was pretty easy because she leans liberal. She said she wished she would've gotten involved earlier.

“I didn’t pay attention at all to the primaries," Schweikhart said. "I didn’t get involved at all. I think we all learned a lesson to care more.”

 Schweikhart said she voted for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but wanted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to win. 

“I really do like how she’s all about children’s education," Schweikhart said. "Children are the future.”

Kinesiology assistant instructor Josh Wald-Kerr said he got tired of the focus on the two candidates' characters, and less on issues. He said that wasn't what he cared about.

“I don’t care as much who lies more," Wald-Kerr said. "To me, it’s not great. But I’m not hanging out with (the candidates). I’m voting for them to make somewhat important decisions. To me, that’s more important.”

He went on to say he's nervous about the future of the country, and how people have been discussing politics on social media.

"It really saddens me that no matter who is elected that that’s kind of what comes out of this," Wald-Kerr said. "That there’s a permissibility about casual hatred or dismissal or generalization… I think that that’s very sad. And that it increases and already increased isolation that we have."

He said this election should not cause people to isolate themselves from their community.

"In terms of the election is that people can keep in mind that it’s a representation of where we are as a culture," Wald-Kerr said. "And where we are going. And if you don’t like it, then that is something to voice, something to think about."

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