The polling station at the Huntington hall at Syracuse university is home for many SU students. However, this place also attracts the first time voters and SU AlUMNUS. to come.(c) 2022 Yoki Tang

City of Syracuse

POLLING STATION AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ATTRACTS MANY NEW VOTERS AND SU ALUMNUS

By Yoki Tang

Video

Yoki Tang(Reporter) ：““Syracuse university campus is not only the home for most s-u students, but now it really engage the students who just eligible to vote. S-U student Stephanie Figaro has just turned 18 this year and she told me the first voting made her super excited.”.”

Stephanie Figaro：”Well, I think it’s super important because everybody’s vote counts. And I think that would need to be made known here. Like every vote counts. And my parents have taught me that, like, i’ve gotten voting with them since I was younger, and they told me that my vote counts.”

Yoki Tang ：“Huntington hall atS-U campus is one of the place that school offers for students to vote during the the midterm election. Voting station manager Raj Dewan at S-U Huntington hall told me the voting numbers really depend on the kind of election and each election is very consequential.”

Raj Dewan：“ So it’s important to be to come out and vote. It may not be voting for a president, but voting for other leaders who have a different direct impact on our lives. Look at how close all the elections are these days, you know, a handful of votes can decide especially in local elections. So i think it’s really important to come out and vote and express your opinion. ”

Yoki Tang ：“This year’s midterm election is also attracting the Syracuse alumni to come and vote. Chrissy Jasmine is one of the Syracuse university alumni, graduated from the I- school many years ago. She says it’s important to vote in midterm elections.”

Chrissy Jasmine：“I know that there other types of elections that get bigger, bigger attention, but without the without having the proper midterm elections, you don’t get the proper support for the president, which was an issue during president Barack Obama’s administration. Most of the house in the senate went republican, which caused gridlock. And then no bills are passed.”

Yoki Tang: “There is still plenty of time for you to vote on today, although now is 4 pm east standard time. Just go to the voting place and they have prepared everything for you. Reporting from Huntington hall at Syracuse university for democracy in action, NCC news, I’m Yoki tang.”

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (DIA) –  Who says midterm elections are a snooze-fest? At Huntington Hall in Syracuse University yesterday, the midterm elections had a palpable buzz.

“People were very, very eager to vote,” said poll site manager Raj Dewan. “This was a very exciting year to start as a poll site inspector, because you’re helping the long lines of people who really wanted to vote. It is great to be able to help them.”

This is, however, was not Dewan’s first time working the voting. It was his second time and he said he really enjoys working with the poll site team.

“(My) first election was the presidential election in 2020,” Dewan said.“Many people were waiting to cast their vote and and decide on who the next president would be. ”

Dewan predicts large numbers will be voting in the 2024 presidential election, which typically draw more voters than midterm elections.

“The numbers typically are highest in presidential elections, because those are the most consequential elections in some ways,” said Dewan. “The turnout is typically bigger for presidential elections, followed by midterm elections, like this year, followed by the inter year elections.”

Dewan explained, in brief, how the voting process works and why he enjoys being a part of it:

“Every state has laws and, generally speaking, you have to register to vote. Then they verify you’re a citizen, that you’re a legal resident of the county, and you live in the county where you vote. That’s the New York State law. And then once that is done, we try to make it as easy as possible to vote.”

This year, Huntington Hall attracted many SU students. But there were many first time voters and SU alumni at the polls using their votes to decide the future of this country.

“I just turned 18 this year,” said SU student Estefania Figueroa. “I think it’s super important (to vote) because everybody’s vote counts and that needs to be made known here.”

Freshly eligible to vote might be the best gift for Figueroa—getting to show her right as an American citizen in democracy.

“My parents have taught me that,” she said. “I’ve gone voting with them since I was younger. They told me that my vote counts. That’s why I do it.”

Enthusiasm and excitement of voters could be seen today, especially compared to the previous COVID-19 epidemic voting years.

Christie Jasmin, an SU alumni and now working at the department of Marketing and Communications at Syracuse University, said expressing her passion to participate in an election is the reason she votes.

“It’s important to make sure there are enough (candidates) to support a president who backs the ideas that I’m for” Jasmin said. “I’m really big on green energy and women’s rights. I make sure I vote for the candidates who support those ideas.”

“It’s was different”, Jasmin said, as an alumni to come back to the Syracuse campus to vote again.

“Last time I was here I was an undergrad. It was my first time voting,” she said. “That  really meant a lot.”

Jasmin said she remembers when the power to direct the country’s future first washed over her:

“After the first inauguration for President Barack Obama back in middle school, I realized that I would have the potential to control my country,” she said.

Although now voting is just ended, it is important for you to know what happened during the midterm election happened in Central New York. If you were infected by the enthusiasm of these voters，next time, remember to bring your driver license or a real ID. Voting is not the aim, but for a future you wish to be. Which is nothing to snooze about.

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