On Tuesday, Nov. 2, those who are registered to vote in Blacksburg will have the opportunity to vote for a member of the House of Representatives for the 9th District.
The candidates are Democratic incumbent Rick Boucher, Republican Morgan Griffith and Independent Jeremiah Heaton.
College students could play a pivotal part in the political process, although voter turnout during non-presidential elections is almost always lower than presidential elections.
Both the College Republicans and the Young Democrats at Virginia Tech have organized voter registration drives to get students registered to vote and interested in candidates.
Students who are registered to vote in their hometowns may vote by absentee ballot, although it is easy for college students to register to vote in Blacksburg, even if they do not claim Blacksburg as their permanent residence.
Lexy Rusnack, the chair for the College Republicans at Tech, has been surprised by the amount in interest that students have shown in this specific election.
“There is a decent size pool of people interested this year, which is surprising,” she said.
Rusnack said she believes college students need to be involved in the elections, even if they don’t consider the current election an important one.
“Our Congressman will represent the campus, they can decide that funding is important or it isn’t,” Rusnack said.
The lack of interest among college students could come from the fact that candidates haven’t reached out to students.
“Young people participate in elections when they are asked,” said Craig Brians, associate professor of political science. “They don’t always take the initative to get out and vote.
“I don’t really see students around campus supporting candidates for this election,” he said.
“Politics influence every single aspect of our lives. Students need to be aware of the issues,” said Nicole Faut, president of the Young Democrats at Tech.
“It is important for students to understand where decisions come from and how these decisions affect them,” she said.
Both Faut and Rusnack said students should do their research and understand the issues before they head to vote on Nov. 2.
“Just looking at the polls isn’t the best way to prepare,” Rusnack said.
George Bacon, a junior, plans to vote absentee ballot.
“I want to vote for local issues,” Bacon said. “It’s important for college students to have a say in all levels of government.”
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 22 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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If you are ignorant of the candidates and what they stand for, the the current political issues, and have no particular stance on them .....please don't vote.
This is what happened during the 08 presidential election and look at how that turned out.
I respect both sides if you have a firm belief but if you don't, please don't just flip a coin and vote, otherwise your hurting the country by putting bad candidates in congress when this country really needs to clean house right now.
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08 election? ROFL try 08, 06, 04, 02, 2000 election. Nobody ever pays attention.
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"If you are ignorant of the candidates [...] please don't vote. This is what happened during the 08 presidential election and look at how that turned out."
People who don't agree with you are ignorant?
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No, people who vote because someone else told them to vote for someone are. If all they know about a candidate is there name, they shouldn't vote.
When I was on campus during the 08 election, there were so many people saying they were voting for Obama but they didn't know why. Everyone bought into the whole "change" propaganda and it worked. Some people voted for obama JUST because he was black. Some because they thought Mccain was too old ect despite him being a rather moderate conservative.
Even for my party, if you don't understand why you are voting and what you want the candidate to do, just don't vote.
The votes should reflect what America really wants.
I'm just saying if you don't have a good reason to vote just don't.
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Some people voted for McCain because he was white.
And, it wasn't propaganda. Obama has affected more change in less time than any president since Johnson. You may not like it, but it's undeniable he has changed the course of the economy, how the health care system handles the poor and afflicted, and the trajectory of two military campaigns. You don't like it because he's a D and not an R, but that's what "America really want[ed]".
Thanks for playing, Anon.
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Actually Obama has done almost nothing. He continued the Bush policies and the only thing he did different was the Health Care plan. The problem is the health care plan was a huge payout to the insurance companies it did almost nothing for the American people. Now you are required by Federal Law to have insurance. That's how they insured everyone by telling them buy this or we'll throw you in jail. He's been in office two years now and he's done one thing, boy that's record sweeping change right there. Before you put him on Mt. Rushmore you need to look at his administration objectively and you'll find he's very similar to Bush's second term. In both policy and effectiveness.
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"Actually Obama has done almost nothing"
"The problem is the health care plan was a huge payout to the insurance companies it did almost nothing for the American people"
"The problem is the health care plan was a huge payout to the insurance companies it did almost nothing for the American people"
I think YOU ARE the ignorant one who shouldn't be voting, way to call yourself out. Why don't you listen to someone who isn't glen beck?
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In what way am I ignorant, how am I wrong? Perhaps if you attacked my points rather than a TV news pundit your argument would be more effective.
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In what way am I ignorant, how am I wrong? Perhaps if you attacked my points rather than a TV news pundit your argument would be more effective.
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The rent is too damn high
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playing what? I wasn't aware I was playing anything.
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