Illinois State University is giving students the opportunity to vote today on campus for the 2024 election. Students can vote from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center.
When entering the first floor of the Bone Student Center, students can vote and register to vote at the Brown Ballroom, visit tables answering questions regarding voting and high-five Reggie near the voting location.
If voters are still in line at 7 p.m., they are entitled to vote. At 10 a.m. today, the line outside the Brown Ballroom of interested voters was short and moved fast. However, the line inside the Brown Ballroom was long. The Center for Civic Engagement has encouraged students all semester long to vote early to avoid waiting in a potential long line on Election Day.
ISU students said this year's election has caused them anxiety as they are worried about how it will impact the United States moving forward.
Senior physical education major Julie Crews is anxious about this election and shared why she decided to vote.
“I just knew it was a big election. I was not going to do it at first, but I was reminded of how big this election was,” Crews said. “I just thought that I should vote, and I’m glad that I did.”
Senior special education major Amanda Stringer shared her joy in being able to vote in this year’s election.
“It feels good,” Stringer said. “It feels like I’m really making a change and really impacting the world. I just can’t describe the feeling.”
Junior finance and economics major Alessia Lowe explained why she chose to vote on Election Day as opposed to voting early.
“It just feels more official and authentic. There’s just something special about voting on Election Day,” Lowe said.
Senior horticulture and landscape management major Tommy Hayes said he feels prepared for the election.
“I feel good, my faith comes first in everything I do. I try to make it that way, and I feel that this is the first time I’ve used my faith and made this election my own thing, as I have researched both candidates,” Hayes said.
This year is the first time Hayes is voting in a presidential election. Hayes said the voting experience feels “insane.”
“[This] feels kind of nuts,” Hayes said. “I was about six or seven months too young to vote in the last [presidential] election. The last one was also crazy and being able to have a say in this one is also kind of nuts, but I’m excited.”
Hayes also chose to vote on Election Day for more “intention” rather than participating in early voting.
“I was always used to seeing my parents vote on Election Day. It just feels like the intentional way to do it,” Hayes said. “That’s what Election Day is for.”
