Thursday, March 28, 2024

MSU students still in line to vote hours after polls at East Lansing satellite office close

November 9, 2022
<p>Michigan State University students wait in line to vote in the 2022 midterm elections at the East Lansing City Clerk satellite office at Brody Hall. Some students reported waiting over four hours in line to cast a vote.</p>

Michigan State University students wait in line to vote in the 2022 midterm elections at the East Lansing City Clerk satellite office at Brody Hall. Some students reported waiting over four hours in line to cast a vote.

Photo by Bella Johnson | The State News

Michigan State University students have been waiting in line for hours at the East Lansing City Clerk’s satellite office inside Brody Hall to register to vote with their East Lansing address and cast their ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election.

MSU psychology freshman and first-time voter Logan Walters got in line at 6:15 p.m. and was still waiting at 10:30 p.m. Walters said there was not a specific issue that brought him to the polls.

“I really, really, really just want to make my impact as a citizen,” Walters said.

Political science junior Aarian Driskell waited in line for over three hours, and she said that there was nothing that would make her leave after that point. The pre-law student said she was drawn to vote on abortion issues this election.

“I’m not pro-life or pro-choice, but there are some things where it’s just like—that’s just not okay,” Driskell said.

Secondary education - English freshman Hailey Sobol and psychology junior McKenna Bausman got in line at approximately 6:30 p.m. and were almost to the front of the line at 10:30 p.m.

“It’s really important to get out there and vote, and I want to be able to protect my rights and the rights of so many other people,” Sobol said.

Bausman said she would stay in line until she cast her ballot to know she did her part.

“I feel like I can’t be upset with what happens if I don’t vote,” Bausman said. “Since I vote and if something doesn’t go the way I want it to, I can be like, ‘I just stayed four hours.’”

Applied engineering sciences senior Luigi Bernardo got in line around 8 p.m.

“I’m very proud to wait in line because Abraham Lincoln would be proud of me right now that I waited in line for our democracy,” Bernardo said. “I think voting is one of those things where you can give back as a human, and so I think it's important to do that.”

Social relations and policy senior Beija McCarter and pre-law freshman Alena Walker volunteered with Michigan United handing out water and food to encourage people to stay in line.

“I wanted to make sure that every student knows that they have a voice and that it needs to be heard,” McCarter said. “A lot of times, students don't vote because things like this happen where it's really difficult. It’s 10:30, people want to go home, but it's really important that people get their voice heard—especially our generation.”

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