From Where We Are

USC students weigh in ahead of midterm elections

With elections less than a month away, students share how they plan to participate.

A photo of a hand wearing light blue latex gloves inserting a ballot into a drop box.

In this May 28, 2020, file photo a voter casts her mail-in ballot in a drop box in West Chester, Pa., prior to the primary election. (Photo courtesy of AP)

By Monica Esquivel and Nicole Bednar

The countdown continues. Midterm election day is less than one month away. Democrats are fighting to hold onto their control in the Senate, and Republicans are feeling confident in taking the House.

Midterm elections are almost here. This year, most of congress is on the ballot. This includes seats in the House of Representatives, a third of the Senate, and state governors. With Democrats holding onto Congress by only a slim majority, this election will determine the political party makeup of the legislative branch.

Earlier today we went around campus asking USC students if they will be participating in the midterm election this November.

MADY TOZER: I actually just requested my absentee ballot.

BLAKE STAUFFER: I just did my absentee ballot registration yesterday.

DANIEL VOIGT: Indeed, I have.

SOPHIA FIJMAN: No, but I plan on it.

KEYARA AHMADI: No, I have not really been keeping up the midterm elections.

According to the New York Times, there’s a low voter turnout among younger demographics with only half of voters between the ages 18-29 voting in the 2016 election.

AMOR MATHERSHED: Wow, I’m part of that demographic.

That was Amor Mathershed, a Health and Human Sciences major at USC.

USC Students Mady Tozer and Daniel Voigt express their thoughts on low voter turnout among younger voters.

MADY TOZER: I would say our generation kind of has their priorities a little out of whack. I think we focus a little bit too much on social media and our image and all these things, but really don’t know what’s going on in the world.

DANIEL VOIGT: they naturally gravitate toward something that’s more interesting. And it seems like right now then Jeffrey Dahmer is more interesting than all the political stuff that’s going on.

Due to the current political climate, there is a lot at stake this upcoming midterm election. With talks of anti-LGBTQ legislation and the overturn of RoevWade, Mady Tozer, a USC student from Texas, believes these civil rights issues will send voters to the polls

MADY TOZER: So I think the biggest thing at stake for this election is women’s rights and minority rights. So it’s, it’s a pretty big election for, for Texas

MADY TOZER: I don’t know how it’s going to go, honestly. I think with the abortion situation in Texas, I think a lot of people are going to come out and vote against him because of that.

Blake Stauffer from West Virginia and Daniel Voight from Wisconsin explain the significance of these elections especially as they pertain to their state.

DANIEL VOIGT: So what’s most at stake is getting more Democrats in office, from my perspective, and sort of gaining a both a younger demographic and a more progressive demographic in office. I feel like that’s the biggest thing at stake.

BLAKE STAUFFER: the upcoming elections in general, I’m not sure if it’s this year the next one, but our Senate seat is up for grabs and right now we’re split, Democratic and Republican one of each. So if that flips to both Republican, then obviously that really hurts the Democrats in Senate.

Midterm elections will take place Tuesday, November 8th. Make sure to cast your vote and make your voice heard this upcoming election. For more information on how to vote, visit your state government website.