Students research voting options before election

By Lynda Helm
The Collegian

While voter turnout continues to be low year after year, many Fresno State students said they plan to vote in the November election.

“Students now seem to be more aware of what is on the ballot than in the past,” Wendy White, a college counselor, said. “It could be because they realize that their decisions can affect tuition,” White said.

Some students who plan to vote in the upcoming election seem willing to put out the extra effort required for a well-thought out decision. John Schleich, a geometrics major, has been reading up on the propositions on the ballot. He believes he has made his decision on Proposition 85 regarding parental permission for a minor to have an abortion and Proposition 87 regarding a tax on oil.

However, he is still unsure on his decision on the proposition regarding a cigarette tax.

“I want to read up on each prop and learn the facts before I make a decision,” Schleich said.

Abel Oviedo, a construction management major, agrees about studying up on the items on the ballot before making a decision. He plans to focus on his studies at the moment and spend a couple days before the election reading up on the propositions.

“There are two sides to every prop and I would like to study both sides,” Oviedo said.

Accounting major Choua Vang recently obtained her citizenship. One of the reasons she wanted to be a U.S. citizen was to participate in the voting process. She has been researching the ballot in order to make her decision. She has made a decision about Proposition 85 but she has yet to decide her choice for governor.

However, many Fresno State students are too busy with homework and midterms to worry about the November election.

“I don’t feel I need to vote,” Melinda Vang, a graphic designer major, said.

Oviedo thinks students are too busy with clubs, study groups, work and parties to allow time to vote.
While many students are busy with other obligations, some don’t believe that their vote will help.
“I don’t feel I personally would make a difference,” English major Kelleann Aquino said. Aquino thinks a low number of college students vote because they feel they are a small minority. Some students think of voting as another form of homework.

“It takes a lot of time and effort if you want to make an informed, well-thought out decision,” Aquino said. Aquino thinks students should make their choices based on facts and not television commercials.
“I don’t have a TV or cable so I am not bombarded with ads,” Aquino said.

Rodney A. Anderson, a political science professor, thinks that a number of students feel they are too young, they are not interested in politics and believe the issues in the ballot are meant for middle-adge citizens.

“Young college students do not see politics in the same way,” Anderson said. Anderson said the low voter turnout is a persistent problem, and candidates should try to reach out to the young voters. He said that maybe if candidates focused more on the issues that matter to young voters the turnout would increase.

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