As turnout for the November 8 general municipal election is expected to hit an all-time high, local and out-of-state USC students share mixed perspectives on voting for upcoming elections.
In California, voters have the option to vote in-person at a voting center or receive a Vote-By-Mail, or VBM, ballot. California Election Law allows a voter to conditionally register and cast a ballot through the Conditional Voter Registration, or CVR, even if they are not yet registered. They will then be able to vote in any future election once their registration becomes active.
In Los Angeles, a top issue on the ballot is the homelessness crisis. Nikki Hagigat, a senior and health and human sciences major, is eager to vote for this reason in particular.
“I feel very strongly about trying to elect someone that will solve the homeless crisis in a healthier, more justifiable way,” said Hagigat, a California resident.
Rick Caruso and Karen Bass, both of whom have strong ties to USC, are the two mayoral candidates tackling this issue in what is shaping up to be a tight race.
Brianna Sanchez, a freshman majoring in legal studies and political science and California resident, said she registered to vote for this upcoming election to fulfill her civic duty.
“Voting is a privilege. My parents are immigrants, so they didn’t have that chance to vote when they first came here,” said Sanchez. “So now, I want to make sure that I use that ability to use my voice.”
However, California resident Daniel Annune, a sophomore majoring in business administration and computer science, said preparation was important before voting in the upcoming election.
“I’m not very knowledgeable about the current state of politics and what my choice would be and who I would have or should pick,” said Annune. “So before I make a decision in voting, I have to do a lot more research.”
For the roughly 50% of USC students who are out-of-state residents, it is common to vote through absentee ballots. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have advocated for mail-in voting.
“I think they are an important piece of voting that allows people, especially college students who are outside of their home state, to still have an influence on their elections,” said freshman Dominic Mendoza, a jazz studies major from Washington. Mendoza is planning on voting absentee in his hometown county.
With the midterm elections about a week out, students like Flavia Delle Femine, a junior studying at the Thornton School of Music, are aware of the engagement necessary to make change in their communities.
“For people like myself who are young voters, who are really important for elections, voting gives them a chance to participate even when they aren’t near their hometown,” said Femine. “Whether you are overseas or across the country, you can still vote and participate — so please, vote!”