IUPUI Person On the Street: Jags Go to the Polls

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The 2018 midterm elections are rapidly approaching, and on Nov. 6, millions will have the opportunity to influence the course of the country’s future with their votes. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, and 35 senate seats are also up for grabs.

Here in Indiana, incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly will defend his seat from the Republican businessman Mike Braun. If Sen. Donnelly successfully defends his seat, the Democrats would need only a net gain of two seats to gain majority control over the Senate if they sustain no other losses. A failure to do so would see the Republicans maintain majority control.

According to FiveThirtyEight, there’s a substantial chance that young voters will go to the polls in increased numbers this election. IUPUI students represent that young demographic, and of those interviewed, it appears that there may be some truth to that assessment.

Isaac Kilgore, a senior majoring in media and public affairs, said that he would be voting in the upcoming election.

“I always make sure I’m registered to vote,” Kilgore said. “I know it’s supposed to be a pretty important election. I’m from LaGrange County, and we tend to vote Republican.”

Others felt that they don’t have enough information available to them to head to the polls. Madison, a freshman majoring in biology, doesn’t feel comfortable casting a vote.

“I’m registered to vote, but I don’t think I’m informed enough to do so,” Madison said.

Other students who have participated in previous elections planned on voting again this year as well.

Jake, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, voted in the 2016 elections and will be voting again this November. He feels obligated to cast his ballot.

“It feels like what you’re supposed to do,” he said. “I don’t really like our president now. It’s the same reason why I voted in 2016.”

Melissa Gutierrez, a senior double majoring in German and French, started voting in 2008. She thinks that the current Republican majority in the Senate isn’t representing its constituents well.

“I’m concerned as a woman and a minority,” she said. “I don’t think the current House majority is reflective of what U.S. citizens want.”

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