Logo of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Photo courtesy of Georgia Secretary of State
With issues like financial aid and the economy affecting college students, KSU students discussed whether their generation is making its voice heard at the polls.
As the midterm elections approach, Kennesaw State University students have differing views on whether college students are participating in elections, but some students believe voting can have an impact on issues that affect their generation.
Election day is scheduled for Nov. 3, while Georgia’s early voting is from Oct. 13th to 30th with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
Dr. Frooq Kperogi, who teaches journalism and emerging media at KSU, said she encourages students to participate in their communities.
“I always encourage civic participation, and as someone who teaches journalism and emerging media, I encourage students to be involved in their communities,” Kperogi said. “If you don’t participate in the civic process, you’re undercutting yourself.”
For some students, issues involving financial aid have made elections more relevant to their lives.
Sylvia Bradly, a KSU student, said she believes college students have reasons to pay attention to elections due to policies affecting FAFSA, which can impact them directly.
“I believe college students are voting this year, especially with Trump’s policies on FAFSA [since] financial aid as a whole is really affecting college students,” Bradly said. “Multiple of my friends had to drop this semester because their FAFSA did not hit.”
Bradly said she believes that students are voting, but not only because of specific policies.
“I believe college students will not only be voting for financial aid policies; they are voting for their voices to be heard,” Bradly said.
Other students said they see voting as a way for their generation to have an influence on the future.
Nolan Grey said he believes students are becoming more interested in politics.
“I think students are voting because students are more educated and more into politics more now than they have been in the past,” Grey said.
However, not every student believes a majority of college students are voting.
Joy McNeil, a KSU student, said she thinks not all students are participating.
“I think some students are voting but not the majority,” McNeil said.
McNeil said that voting is particularly important for younger generations as they begin to have a larger role in society.
“I think it is extremely important for our generation to vote as we are entering the new economy and it is now our job to make change for our future,” McNeil said.
She also emphasized the importance of participating in state elections.
“The sooner we all realize how important it is to vote, especially for state elections, our generation will be able to see real change that will benefit us now and in the future,” McNeil said.
While students’ opinions may differ on how many of their peers participate in elections, the students interviewed connected voting with issues that directly affect college students, including financial aid, representation and future policies.
