Students say their vote matters

“I need a president that will do right by people,” a Claflin University student said. 

As Election Day 2024 nears, Claflin students like Korey McCaskill and La’tresa Middleton are contributing to the discussion. McCaskill and Middleton will be voting in the election to exercise their civic duties and make an impact on the nation. 

“I am voting this year because it’s my rights and civic duty to help pick a candidate that is going to help lead this nation and future generations,” McCaskill said.

Middleton echoed the sentiment: “I'm voting because I know for one it's my duty as a citizen.”

McCaskill supports Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris because of Harris’ plans for women’s health care, housing, inflation and climate change. She is confident in knowing that Harris’ plans of action will “build this nation.” 

Middleton does not support either candidate, but she will vote for Harris because of her economic and women’s rights plans. Yet, Middleton notes Harris’ lack of a solution for the war in Gaza. 

As Claflin students, McCaskill and Middleton say the election will impact their collegiate journey and move into the workforce.

“It would make a huge difference for my transition from college to jobs, to being able to afford my own home, to being able to have access to loans to help pay off things that I need,” McCaskill said. 

Middleton says privatizing education and decreasing school funding will deeply impact college students. 

“The privatization of education and providing less funding to public education will affect all college students and more so those who attend public universities rather than private,” Middleton said. 

Current President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the election sparked many emotions.

For Middleton, Biden’s exit was a wise decision. She believes the Democratic votes would have split because “he didn’t have much support from his own party.”

McCaskill also feels that Biden leaving the election was needed. She notes Biden’s health was not great and “he didn’t seem fit to run.”

These two women say their vote matters because of the sacrifices made in the African American suffrage movement.

“As an African American woman, being able to vote was not given back in the day. To keep those that have fought for us to vote, I will vote so their fighting doesn’t go in vain,” McCaskill said.

McCaskill and Middleton see the key election issues as women’s rights, climate change, fracking, housing, child care costs, the war in Gaza and marriage rights for the LGBTQ+ community.