Election recap: CSB+SJU students get out to vote

Tuesday marked election day across the country. US citizens in every state turned out to vote, including a large percentage of CSB+SJU students. Students visited Heritage Hall and the St. Joseph Government Center in St. Joseph, as well as the Great Hall at SJU and Avon Town Hall in Avon, to elect representatives, senators, state representatives, a mayor and the next president of the United States.

St. Joseph City Clerk Kayla Klein first worked the 2020 election, as well as the 2022 midterms and this year’s election, so she has been able to see voter turnout numbers vary from year to year in St. Joseph Precinct Two.

“I would say it’s definitely better than what it was in 2020. It was very hard with all the masking and the plexiglass,” Klein said. “It’s a lot easier for our judges to hear people when they come in too… so I think it’s definitely more efficient now.”

Unofficial numbers estimate a lower statewide voter turnout than 2020; however, St. Joseph Precinct Two seemed to have strong in-person turnout.

“We did early voting here for a week prior to election day, and we got over 500 voters. And then today, I think so far this morning [as of 11:30 a.m.] we’re over 500 turnout,” Klein said.

She estimates that there are around 2,000 registered voters in the precinct.

“In this precinct, compared to Precinct One, we have more registered voters. Precinct One includes the majority of CSB, and so there are a lot of first-time registrations,” Klein said.

However, Bennies living in Centennial Commons vote in Precinct Two. Klein noted that a majority of the students on Precinct Two’s list had showed up and voted already. St. John’s senior political science majors Simon Venell and Payton Crotty shared their thoughts on the 2024 election. Venell is a member of College Democrats, while Crotty is a member of College Republicans. The pair are roommates and good friends.

“I think this has felt like both the longest and shortest presidential election we’ve seen—longest in terms of how long it feels like we’ve been going at the same issues, but shortest in terms of the constant surprises and the ultimately short length of the Harris campaign,” Venell said.

Crotty echoed a similar sentiment.

“I’d say this election cycle has felt chaotic, unpredictable and fun. I think there has been a wide array of political events this year that I was lucky enough to be in the capitol (D.C.) to witness, and it has been very entertaining to watch how the momentum has constantly shifted in this election, making it an unpredictable one,” Crotty said.

A similar feeling was felt in St. Joseph Precinct Two on election day.

“I mean, people are excited, you know. The judges came in this morning—they’re very excited, happy just to help people vote,” Klein said.

Polling officials were focused on getting everyone to vote, regardless of their political opinions or divides.

“For us, on the day of, it’s less of a political thing, you know, with Republican or Democrat, it’s more of getting people to vote. You have first time voters that come in, it’s exciting, they’re excited, their parents are excited. And just seeing little kids come in with their mom and dad. So, it’s more of just the excitement of the process as opposed to what the results end up being,” Klein said.

When asked about their opinions on the current state of American politics, both Venell and Crotty shared concerns about the harsh divisions they perceive.

“I’d say it is a fairly divided country right now on a range of issues, which is concerning,” Venell said. “I think the goal has to be finding middle ground and ensuring that truth reigns over misinformation.”

However, Crotty expressed optimism for the future of politics.

“I think it’s clear that we are in a very divided era of politics, but I’m hoping that after this election, though it may take a while, this era will die down a little,” Crotty said.