With the election just a day away, tensions are running high and polls are still showing a virtual coin flip between the two candidates. While Colorado is not a swing state, you can still feel the nerves in the air.
Across campus, students are experiencing various levels of stress, involvement and anticipation as Election Day approaches. Conversations with several sophomores revealed that issues like democracy, abortion rights and climate change weigh heavily on their minds.
Thomas Elfson, a second-year, said that he had a neutral feeling toward the election but acknowledged that it’s still important to vote.
“There’s nothing I can do except wait for the results,” Elfson said.
Another second-year, Claire Miller, is slightly more engaged, having watched the last two debates. However, she admitted that her engagement with politics had only recently increased. She voiced concerns about post-election reactions stating that “tensions are so high, just like they were with the last election.”
Finally, Kendall Cadigan, a second-year, expressed mixed feelings about the upcoming election.
“It is a little worrying to me just how split and divided our country is,” she said, referencing the burning of ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington. “Just seeing how people are already reacting is making me worried for Tuesday [Election Day].”
With abortion rights on the ballot in many states, many women are feeling an increased sense of urgency to vote.
The gender gap in voter turnout in this election is predicted to be one of the largest in modern history. Women already make up more than half of early voters in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. Similar to the last election, men will likely turn out more as the deadline to submit ballots looms closer.
Although both Colorado and the county of Denver are solidly blue, there are still many students at DU excited to be first-time voters. The voices of young people at DU and across the nation will play a crucial role in this election. It is going to come down to the margins, and we may not know the results until after Tuesday. What is important is that you get out there and vote.
