The new voters in Evanston show social commitment

Students across Evanston have shown community involvement during this election cycle, such as encouraging voting during Monday’s youth meetingbut this election gave some students the opportunity to vote for the very first time.

Young voters can significant consequences for the presidential electionsif and when they show up, as historically the 18 to 29 age group votes less than everyone else.

This year, the turnout of voters under 30 seemed possible record breaking.

Volunteer Mia Johnson on Nov. 1 next to Northwestern University’s “voter box” signage. Credit: Maria Jon Girard

Northwestern University’s “voter box.”

At Northwestern University, the school’s Center for Civic Engagement has partnered with student organization NU Votes to transport voters to polling places.

The “voter bus” offered rides from the university’s Norris Student Center to the city’s Civic Center every 20 minutes from noon to 4 p.m. for the entire early voting period in Illinois.

Signage at the student center allowed students to find information and instructions about registration and transportation.

Volunteer Mia Johnson, who works with the Center for Civic Engagement, was stationed at the signage on Nov. 1 to talk to passersby.

High school voters

Although most students are old enough to vote, only some high school students meet the minimum age requirement of 18.

Evanston Township High School offered students an election day, and 18-year-old ETHS senior Audrey Bodine took the opportunity to vote in person at Lincolnwood Elementary School.

Bodine recalled accompanying her mother to the 2016 election.

“I didn’t really understand what was happening when I was in fourth grade,” Bodine said. “This time I know I am making a difference and having an impact on America.”

Bodine described how she believes it is important to vote, even if you don’t live in a swing state during the presidential election.

Decide for yourself

“There are so many things that if you just sit back and look at it, your life, your livelihood and your life will be decided for you,” Bodine said.

Bodine said she conducted research and consulted news media in the summer leading up to this election about the lead-up to the race across the political spectrum. Ultimately, she decided to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

“I don’t think it’s about opinions anymore. It’s just about facts,” said Bodine. “Hopefully she wins and democracy remains intact.”

Charles Settimi, another 18-year-old senior at ETHS, also said he voted for Harris.

Settimi voted early during a field trip to the Civic Center with his government class.

“It was pretty crazy. I mean, I think mainly because I came in with a group of new voters,” Settimi said. “There was a lot of commotion.”

ETHS encouraged all eligible students to register and to do so this year, Settimi described. The effort was led by Erin Claeys, the school’s community service coordinator.

Registration tables

According to Settimi, Claeys set up a table to help students register to vote in the common areas of the schools and beyond in the weeks leading up to the elections.

“Politics has implications for the next long, long time, especially as I go to college,” Settimi said of the importance of voting as a young person.

He also said he wished he had done more research before voting on some local elections.

Beacon Academy senior and 18-year-old Lachlan Costabile had similar sentiments.

“I know the positions of the two presidential candidates,” Costabile said. “But other than them and the information I gathered about them from the mainstream media, I didn’t really know exactly everything I was putting on the ballot today.”

Costabile attends school in Evanston but is based in Highland Park. There he voted on election day with a paper ballot, which he said surprised him.

He said that he voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump in this election, but would be satisfied with either presidential candidate.