HSU Students Discuss Why Every Vote Counts
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: November 6, 2012
"It's their duty, it's their voice," said sophomore Dennis Meadows.
"Lead by example, if you don't use it you lose it," said sophomore Lauren VanBergen.
Lauren is voting in her first presidential election. Though she attends HSU, her vote will be counted in the battle-ground state of Nevada.
"You don't really hear the voice of the people," she explained. "And I think that's really what this election is about."
While her vote could be a bigger factor in the outcome of the election, Lauren said it's important for everyone to make their way to the polls.
"The biggest annoyance in America is people saying, 'You should do this and you should do that and you should do this.' and then them not actually stepping up," she said.
It's common for people to believe certain states will always go red or blue when it comes to the race, but Professor Jeff Key reminds his students that this isn't always true.
"Probably the greatest myth is the red state / blue state myth," he explained. "And it's one of those myths that really is harmful in that it works against people participating. They figure, 'Well I'm a Democrat in a Republican state, why vote?'"
And students agree.
"You can assume all you want," said Dennis. "But you've thrown your vote away."
With her absentee ballot already sent in, Lauren says that regardless of which candidate you vote for, that every vote does, in fact, matter. And those who think their vote doesn't count can make a difference.
"Think of the amount of people that could make an impact if they didn't think that," Lauren said.







