Students cite Prop B, Senate Race as reasons for votes
According to students who were interviewed after voting on Tuesday, the most important issues on the ballot were Proposition B regarding puppy mills, the mid-term elections for Senators and Propositions regarding taxes.
“I feel empowered to vote,” Kat Seal said. “It’s important for college kids to vote because we are the constituents of Columbia, so if we want our voices heard, if we want to be radical and make a difference, we need to show the representatives that we are voting and that we do care.”
Six of the eight students polled cited puppy mills as one of the most important issues on Tuesday’s ballot.
“I agree that there should be more focus on those that are breeding dogs, and there should be more restrictions on them.” Shajuanda Campbell said.
Jennifer Hawkins shared Campbell’s sentiment.
“The only one that pretty much caught my attention was the one about the animals, I feel like it’s really important that animals get adequate food, water and shelter,” Hawkins said.
Not all students believed Proposition B was the right choice for their vote. Ashleigh Voellinger said she didn’t vote for Proposition B because she heard that it was going to be used as a stepping stone to regulate other agricultural issues. As a participant in the rodeo, Voellinger said she was worried how Proposition B would affect rodeo down the road.
Steven Young said the Senate race, Proposition B and municipal tax amendments were all important aspects of why he voted.
“I voted against Prop B because I don’t think we need more government regulating all the aspects of business, and I voted against the municipal tax increase because I don’t think right now is the time to be raising taxes on anyone,” Young said.
Travis McCartney, a political science major, said balancing out Congress and securing enough money for the government through taxes were two of the reasons he voted Tuesday.
“We’re not going to get our country out of debt if we keep cutting taxes,” McCartney said. “If the government has no money, then essentially we have no money either.”
In the Senate, Democrat Robin Carnahan, Republican Roy Blunt, Libertarian Jonathon Dine and Constitutionalist Jerry Beck squared off.
“Obviously the Senate race was probably most important,” Young said. “I really loathe and despise both major candidates for Senate, I voted Libertarian.”
McCartney said that he voted for Carnahan because of the things she has done well as Secretary of State. Overall, students polled seemed enthusiastic about casting their vote on Election Day.