Many Michigan State students just finished midterm exams for their classes, leaving little time to ponder the upcoming midterm elections.
Between school, home and a social life in East Lansing, keeping a heightened political consciousness isn’t always the first thing on students’ minds even with fall break and Halloween to decompress — this can be seen in young voter turnout over the years.
But these six students have kept their eyes on the election looming; one that is not exclusive to the student body.
Ellie Barron
Zoology sophomore Ellie Barron wasn’t old enough to vote in the last presidential election. This year, she’s an early voter.
“It’s really important to me that I have an ability to make my voice heard,” Barron said. “It’s not a given.”
Her excitement for her first time voting is muddled by the fear of a negative outcome.
“I’m not a rich white man,” Barron said. “I had to vote on my own reproductive rights a week ago. That’s what I did, I voted on my own reproductive rights.”
Proposal 3 is at the forefront of Barron’s mind because of its direct impact to her; and for her, it spells out freedom, bodily autonomy and control over her future.
“I don’t want the government to decide what can and can’t happen to my body because in the end, it’s not their life,” Barron said. “They're not the ones that have to raise my child or really pay for it because let’s face it … that’s the next at least 18 years of my life and I’m 19 years old, I’m in college, I’m a sophomore, the government shouldn’t have that control over my body.”
Brendan Adamski
Computer science freshman Brendan Adamski said he plans to vote because of the proposals on the ballot. One of the issues Adamski believes is the biggest right now is securing the right to an abortion.
“Proposal 3 by far,” Adamski said. “Rights to get an abortion.”
He also has a neighbor that is running – Adamski did not want to name the neighbor.
“I believe in people and what they stand for,” Adamski said.
Alex Bourassa
Business freshman Alex Bourassa is an out-of-state student from Connecticut. This year he will be a first-time voter through the mail-in process.
“I’m new to it,” Bourassa said. “I want to experience it but at the same time I’d like to have a say in what’s going on.”
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Hunter Zale
History freshman Hunter Zale is from New York and also plans on voting absentee.
“I think every U.S. citizen should do it,” Zale said. “It’s part of being in a democracy, having a responsibility to do that.”
Jenna Buckman
History sophomore Jenna Buckman is from Grosse Pointe, MI and plans to vote absentee. Reproductive rights is one of the most pressing issues on the ballot for Buckman.
“There are a lot of things in this election that are important to me,” Buckman said. “Like Proposal Three with women’s rights.”
Moussa Ba
Criminal justice junior Moussa Ba knows the importance of each voter.
“You gotta make a difference in society,” Ba said. “Each vote counts.”
The biggest issue to Ba right now?
“Gas prices,” he said.
