St. Thomas students flocked to McNeely Hall and the Groveland Community Center Nov. 6 in St. Paul to cast their votes in the 2018 midterm election.
Many students took advantage of the on-campus voting site to cast their ballots. First-year student Savannah Boesin was excited to take part in the civic duty that her parents had spoken about for years.
“It’s just cool to have an opportunity to vote, finally,” Boesin said. “Your parents would always go, and you’re like, ‘I can’t wait for the day I get to go out and have a say!’ I was just excited to go.”
At the McNeely Hall polling place, 10-time Election Judge Leo Timmons directed voters to registration and sign-in tables. Timmons said that there have been more people coming through Tuesday than in a normal midterm.
According to the Minnesota Associated Press, nearly 540,000 votes were cast early when the window opened in September, almost matching the general election early turnout in 2016.
“Voting is the heart of democracy,” Timmons said. “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about how things are.”
But what election judges like Timmons won’t see are the 615,000 absentee and mail-in ballots Minnesotans cast in preparation for Tuesday.
Sophomore Jesse Smrekar said voting gives him the opportunity to voice his concerns on issues that matter to him and affect the St. Paul community.
Smrekar voted on control of the House and Senate and issues ranging from immigration, taxes and government spending, which will directly impact his life in Minnesota over the next few years.
“It’s important to vote because you have not only a right but also a responsibility to make your voice heard,” Smrekar said.
First-year student Jessie Charbonneau said her vote is important, and she is thankful for the opportunity.
“As women, people fought for us to vote for the longest time,” Charbonneau said.
High school student Cali Rivera was excited to participate as a student election judge. Rivera said that her high school asked students to vote in the midterms by placing signs around the building.
“I just think it’s important that we’re responsible for what goes on in our country, and if we’re not voting, then we’re not really respecting that,” Rivera said.
In Minnesota, polls are open until 8 p.m. Polling places will remain open until all who are in line have voted.
Emily Haugen can be reached at haug7231@stthomas.edu.
