Voting and local elections should be important to us

Like many students at CSB+SJU, this will be my first time voting in a presidential election.

I am eager to cast my ballot on Tuesday with millions of other Americans around the country, and I remember voting in the 2022 midterm election for the first time.

I went to the polling place with my Nana on the chilly, autumn day of Nov. 5, 2022, having turned 18 just two months before.

When I walked inside our town hall to vote, I was greeted by my neighbors and community members running the booths and offering friendly instructions. I got my ballot and stepped behind the dry cardboard fold to place my vote.

While I had done research before I went to vote, I was still intimidated by the long list of candidates and choices to make.

There were names I recognized from signs in my neighborhood, but many I had never heard of. For a minute I froze, afraid I was doing a “bad” job as a voter. I felt both powerful and scared. But then I took my pen and began filling in the circles on the ballot.

Once I turned around, finished, I felt extremely fulfilled. I had done my part, and nothing beat the feeling of getting the “I Voted” sticker and walking out the door to the cool autumn day.

I want to emphasize this feeling of fulfillment to others. While voting and making it to the polling place can feel daunting, you can leave knowing that you did your part to make a difference.

Your vote is your voice, your action and your decision. It is important to remember those before us who have fought for the equal right to vote and what significance it has.

Voting was not always a right, but a privilege for certain people. Who you choose to elect through your vote can impact every aspect of your life, especially in local politics.

While the presidential races are a hot topic, local elections are extremely important as well. Your local candidates are your school board members, mayor, house representatives and senate representatives, who are working hard to improve your community.

When you have an issue that you feel passionately should be addressed, these are the people who you will fight for you.

Votes matter even more in local races, where the winners can come down to a few ballots.

Here are a few local Collegeville and St. Joseph candidates that the College Democrats and I support. However, I urge you all to make your own informed decisions. This is just one side of the ticket. Jeanne Hendricks for U.S. Representative District 6 Cindy Aho for State Representative of District 13A Abdi Disane for Representative of District 14A (Students living in Centennial Commons only) St. Joseph Mayor: Jon Hanzen School Board Members at Large (District #742): Shannon Haws, Diana Fenton, Monica Segura Schwartz, Al Dahlgren.

Your ballot will have a range of positions from President of the United States to district court judges.

You can view a sample ballot on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website to alleviate first-time-voting nerves.

Previewing the ballot allows you to do research on candidates you may have never heard of, especially if you are voting in Collegeville or St. Joe as a student.

Voting here is extremely easy; don’t feel like you must travel home to cast your ballot.

There is information on where to vote as a student on campus on the My CSB+SJU website if you search “2024 Voting.” This will tell you your polling place and what documents to bring with you.

After knocking on every door on CSB+SJU campuses, I am excited for student turnout for this election.

My fellow College Democrats and I had wonderful conversations with people about their voting plans, got stamps to help mail ballots and cleared up confusion about the ability to vote on campus as a student.

It was wonderful to see other students eager to cast their ballots and ask questions.

As we get closer to Tuesday, make your plan to vote, talk to your friends, preview your ballot and save your “I Voted” sticker to get a free drink at The Perk or The Schu if you are one of the first 250 students at either location on election day.

Happy voting.