Uconn Students Speak About Their Voting Experiences
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SINCE 1896 • VOLUME CXXVII, NO. 53 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 ELECTION 2020 Biden wins UConn students speak about Connecticut, states begin to their voting experiences call winners The Daily Campus News section spoke to University of Connecticut students who voted in-person on Election by Jake Kelly Day and who turned in their ballots early via absentee ballot. They spoke of the importance of casting their CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT votes and how the presidential election will impact themselves and their peers. Here’s what they had to say. [email protected] “I casted my vote via absentee ballot, and I feel voting in this Tuesday was Election Day in election is important because of the chaos surrounding our America. While the presidential country right now. Exercising our right to vote determines election has been highly divisive, the outcomes of these elections and those outcomes there has been a strong focus on directly affect thousands of people including the UConn senate races as Democrats work community.” to gain the majority. - Brittany Jimena, seventh-semester biology major 7:50 p.m.: The New Yorker projected a Biden win in Ver- mont and Virginia and a Trump win in Kentucky, West Virginia “This is my first time voting in a presidential election, and South Carolina, minutes and it meant so much to me to be able to do something so before the first round of polling small that could change our future. It felt so empowering concluded. This gave Biden 16 to vote!” electorates and Trump 22. -Hayley Andros, seventh-semester elementary education major The Washington Post concur- rently reported Biden winning “I am voting this election because I feel it’s my duty Vermont, as well as New Hamp- as an American citizen and if I didn’t then I’m losing shire, Massachusetts, New Jer- my chance to be heard. There’s too much going on in the sey, Maryland, Delaware and world right now to be silent.” D.C. despite 0% of reported re- -Sydney Brewer, third-semester psychology major sults. Trump was given Indiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma. The “I’ve voted in every election and primary since 2018, Post projections awarded Biden the year I was first eligible to vote, and I intend to not 44 electorates and Trump 26. break that streak ever. I think it’s very important, not 8 p.m.: Polling concluded for just for the sake of the federal level, but also at the local many states. Some key states in level, where we have had some crucial races in my town.” the midst of being counted were -Thomas Longo, fifth-semester accounting major Georgia (Biden leading 49.5%), Florida (Trump leading 49.6%), North Carolina (Trump leading “There was definitely a surprising intensity to this election. I 62.9%), New Hampshire (Biden would have voted regardless of the situation but everywhere leading 57.1%). I looked, teachers and students and companies were all The Post showed Arizona, pushing the importance of this election. When I voted, I Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, felt relieved because that pressure was finally gone. It was a Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Penn- completely unique experience to anything I expected, and I sylvania and Texas at 0% projec- honestly have no idea what will happen with the results but tion. I am glad I was able to be part of it.” 8:10 p.m.: From WFSB Chan- -Erin Hopkins, third-semester nursing major nel 3, the Associated Press reported Biden winning Con- necticut, giving Biden 7 electoral “I think it’s important for eligible voters to vote in all votes. This win was confirmed elections but this one was especially important. As a around 8:30 p.m. woman in the LGBT community, it’s no exaggeration to At the time of writing, Mae say that my rights are on the line this election. I was Flexer (D) is leading Jessica Alba proud to cast my ballot for the candidate I believe will help (R) for Senate District 29. Julie and protect Americans the most.” Shilosky (R) is narrowly leading -Bridget Didona, third-semester biological sciences and (D) incumbent Brian Smith for environmental sciences major State House District 48. A cease and desist order was “Voting in a presidential election didn’t feel special, served to the city of Stamford but that could be because I am not excited about the town clerk from the CT Elec- candidates. I voted because politicians will care about the tions Enforcement Commission. opinions of people who vote and showing my demographic This order was given based on votes will be helpful in the future.” evidence the Stamford Clerk of- -Tim Schafer, third-semester computer science and engineering fice was violating statutes 9-10c. major It will force the acceptance of applications and/or provide ab- For more, see ELECTION, p. 2 sentee ballots “set for applicants with unforeseen illnesses/physi- cal disabilities occurring within six days immediately preceding the close of polls at the Novem- ber 3, 2020 General Election.” 9:30 p.m.: Washington Post reports that in Kentucky, Mitch McConnell (R) has won over Amy McGrath (D). In Colo- rado, John Hickenlooper (D) is the projected winner over Cory Gardner (R), leading at 57.5%. In North Carolina, Cal Cun- ningham (D) is narrowly leading Thom Tillis (R) by 1.2%. And in a Georgia special election, David Perdue (R) is leading handily over Jon Ossoff (D). Election coverage will be con- Students who live at the University of Connecticut voted at Mansfield Community Center. COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were set and masks were required. PHOTOS BY MAGGIE CHAFOULEAS, ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR, ALEX LEO, GRAB PHOTOGRAPHER, WILL CRONKITE, GRAB PHOTOGRAPHER/THE DAILY CAMPUS tinued over the next few days. COVID-19 Tracker Current 225 196 CONFIRMED CASES AT Residential 30 Cumulative Cumulative UCONN STORRS Cases Staff Cases* as of 8:47 p.m. on Nov. 4 14 (positive/symptomatic) Residential Cases* Commuter Cases* *positive test results For more... dailycampus.com The_DailyCampus The_DailyCampus The Daily Campus Tweet of the Day SPEAK NOW | PAGE 4 NOW WHAT? | PAGE 5 NFL | PAGE 12 Ashley Allison @ashleyrallison Mental health matters Election night live social media Week 9 games to watch analysis THANK YOU, POLL WORKERS! 02 Wednesday, November 4, 2020 • DailyCampus.com News UConn students on why they voted, and their thoughts on the voting process ELECTION, cont. from p. 1 “I voted because I’ve always known that young adults have been underrep- resented at the polls. I think the voting experience is a key aspect of what it “I thought the line was going to be really long. That’s what we’ve been seeing means to be an American, so it’s really important. This was my first presiden- all over social media and stuff. But I guess because the town is smaller … that’s tial election, so it felt really fulfilling to finally have a direct contribution!” [why it was] really short.” -Victoria Kostour, fifth-semester molecular and cell biology and psychology major -Cristal Arguello, fifth-semester urban and community studies major “I think it’s really important to go out and vote, even if your own vote doesn’t individually matter because [sic] report the demographics of how many peo- “I voted in this election because I think I have to. I also want to prove to the gov- ple support which party and where.” ernment that young voters are in fact voting and that they need to listen to what - Nicole Suza, seventh-semester allied health sciences major we want too. Personally, I think that if Trump wins this election, it’s probably the end of American democracy.” -Basil Coleman, a third-semester computer science and psychology major “I voted because it’s my right as an American to participate in our democracy. I also voted because I want to see change in our country, especially as a young adult my future is probably the most impacted by this decision and since it’s my “I voted in the election because I understand that I have a duty to help elect first presidential election I definitely made an effort to get my absentee ballot in a responsible and compassionate leader who we can look up to in unprec- on time.” edented times like these. I know my one vote is small, but it was incredible to -Hannah Aseltine, seventh-semester mechanical engineering major see so many people (old and young) lined up at the polls this morning, and I felt pride in knowing that together all of our individual voices will be heard to create a brighter future for us all.” -Allison Appel, third-semester pathobiology major “Voting is important to me because I am a social worker, a student, a member of the LGBT+ community, a woman and a person living with a disability. Voting is important to me because I am an outdoorswoman, a person who “This is a big election. I voted freshman year for something else, but it was really dif- believes that all lives were created equally, yet many are undeserved and ferent, the line was just horrible. This isn’t what I was expecting, so it’s good.” led to believe that this is their fault.” - Leticia Quintillo, fifth-semester marketing major -Michaela Woods, seventh-semester social work major Travel restrictions in Connecticut reinforced just weeks before holidays by Naiela Suleiman STAFF WRITER [email protected] Anyone traveling into Connecticut from any state other than Anyone traveling to Con- necticut from any state other New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island must quarantine.