Election day is just a few hours away! Students and adults will be heading to polling centers, standing in lines, checking in, going to booths to fill out ballots either manually or electronically and doing their civic duty. Eric Yeh has the story.
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Walking around USC today we find two things that are unusual. The first is that it’s raining! And the second is that after many months of build-up, tomorrow is election day! About one out of ten registered voters in California is under the age of 25. But young voters are an important demographic and tomorrow’s results will affect their lives for years to come. By the elevator on the second floor of the Annenberg building music industry junior Emily Sabinas studies with her friend. For Sabinas, the election of a new Mayor for LA Congresswoman Karen Bass or Developer Rick Caruso is top of mind!
Emily Sabinas: Because the mayor holds up an important position in our city. Also, like I’m also from L.A. so when I first been noticing that politics and stuff, I’ve always known that Eric Garcetti has been our mayor. So now I’m seeing that he is not going to be our mayor any more. We’re going to have a new one making this a point to like, okay, what’s the transition going to be now with our new mayor after I grown up seeing seen Eric Garcetti.
The LA mayoral race has garnered lots of attention among LA natives with all the ads being shown. But not everyone is following certain candidates. Neuroscience freshman Lourdes Saldana explains has her interest for the election.
Lourdes Saldana: I’m also like not following like other races when it comes to like the people but propositions. Yes, that makes sense. So I kind of like, well, my major focus was like, um, proposition one.
Proposition one would guarantee abortion rights in California’s State Constitution. Here’s Saldana again on why this prop matters to her.
Lourdes Saldana: It’s captured my interest because it’s I don’t know personally, I think it’s very extreme because, you know, you know, there is like pro-choice and pro-life and it’s just a such a big topic now without like Roe v Wade.
This year’s midterm election has many candidates who have no prior political experience. Some of them nationwide include former football player Herschel Walker, TV presenter Dr. Oz, and more. Neuroscience sophomore Cas Martinez goes more in depth.
Cas Martinez: It’s more so just hearing like sort of how crazy some of the candidates can be. That’s more so how I’ve been following the elections and just seeing, you know, how extreme some of the candidates are.
Public relations junior Ella Bittman tells us why voting is important.
Ella Bitman: I think it’s the most important thing we as citizens and people in this country need to do. So regardless of if I feel super passionate about something that’s on the ballot, I think it’s important to use my voice and make a vote one way or the other because it’s I’m not voting and I’m not helping anyone. I’m just being silent. So and I also think if you vote, then you have less reason, I guess, to complain if it doesn’t go your way. And for the people that don’t vote and then get upset about the results, it’s like, well, you didn’t do anything.
So you can do something. Go out and vote tomorrow. And after you vote, tune in to Annenberg Radio’s YouTube channel tomorrow at 7:30 p.m for live election coverage. For Annenberg Media I’m Eric Yeh.