Student Voter Expectations on Election Day 2008

Truman students are heading to the polls and many are very strong in their beliefs.
            Around campus, one can see signs and people openly supporting their candidates and encouraging people to go vote. With all this commotion, it is expected that a large portion of the student body will soon be filling out ballots.
            However, there are some who will not see a ballot this year. Junior Scott White has decided he will not vote in this election.
            “Quite frankly, I feel that neither of the candidates are worthy to be president,” White said , referring to the Democratic and Republican candidates. “Since there’s going to be a decision made with or without my input, I may as well go ahead and save my time.”
            While looking around campus and talking with his friends, White said he thinks most people will vote for Barack Obama.
            “Most of the people I associate with seem to very strongly trying to get everyone else to vote for him,”  White said. “They seem to be very well aware of what his issues are, although not quite so much on the McCain side.”
            Though some may decide not to vote, others across campus strongly support specific candidates. Sophomore Jaime Kelley will be one of those students headed straight to the polls. Kelly, like White, believes the majority of students will vote for Barack Obama.
            “I expect that students, especially here at Truman, want change,” Kelley said .

She added that it appears the majority of students will go out and vote.
            “If you notice, as you’re walking through the residence halls, posters are everywhere,” Kelley said. “I think there will be a good turnout.”
            Junior Charity Fitten is another who plans on voting.
            “I think one of the major issues I’ve heard from a lot of the female students is the candidates’ positions on reproductive choice and birth control rights,” Fitten said. “They are concerned about McCain’s lack of addressing women’s rights issues, which is surprising since his vice president is female.”
            Like White and Kelley, Fitten feels the majority of the students voting will vote for Obama. At press time, Fitten had yet to make a decision.
            Though nothing can be certain until the election is over, one thing is for sure: many Truman students will voice their opinions today by voting.