Most students are voting in Virginia for this election season, according to a recent voting survey created by The Collegian to gather data and insight on UR voters.
The survey, which was shared over the past two weeks, asked where students voted and what issues they were concerned about. Out of the 62 responses we received, 33% said they would be casting their ballot in Virginia.
UR is located in Virginia’s 4th District, where Democratic incumbent Donald McEachin is facing off against Republican Ryan McAdams.
About 71% of students answered that they would be voting by mail. For senior Rosa Lovo this is the most viable option since she doesn’t have to center her entire day around going to the polls and for her it's speedy, she said.
“It’s very quick, and I know that I have done my civic duty for the day in 10 minutes,” she said.
The dominant issue motivating students to hit the poll booths this election season was abortion, as expressed by 16 different respondents. Students cited this as their motivation because of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year. A few respondents expressed just how pressing this issue is for them.
“I am so terrified for my and other women’s rights that I voted straight down party lines based off that one issue, which I have never done before,” senior Yasmin Skyes replied.
LGBTQ+ rights and climate change also seemed to be top concerns for UR students, appearing 10 times. Inflation and the economy, written eight times, followed closely behind, on par as it is the top issue for voters nationally according to a recent Pew survey.
Legalizing marijuana, 2nd Amendment rights, “the threat of Trump,” and “Republicans in general” are a few of the more unique concerns, expressed only once out of all who responded.
Almost all students on campus who wish to vote in the 4th District can do so at the Jepson Alumni Center, but students living in the 100-1100 University Forest Apartments and 55, 56 and 57 Gateway Village Apartments must vote at Tuckahoe Elementary School. Polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., and you can find your voting location here.
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Contact city and state writer Grace Randolph at grace.randolph@richmond.edu.
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