This year The Front Page will be collaborating with KUNC, a local news radio station, to provide coverage of the general election. A primary goal for the collaboration is to increase election engagement among the Front Range community, particularly young and first-time voters. Reporting will cover a range of topics while remaining centered on serving the community and providing relevant information to local voters.
Additionally, The Front Page and KUNC will report across a variety of media including newsletter publications, Instagram posts, YouTube videos, and podcast episodes, to be accessible to a generation that is digitally native.
Front Page journalists have already begun engaging the FRCC student body in conversations regarding plans to vote this November. Responses ranged from “Unfortunately” to “Hell yeah.”
Larimer campus student government president, Jacky Sticca, told The Front Page, “I can’t say whether or not my vote will have an impact, but as long as I have the right to participate in the system, I will continue to act on that right.” Another student on campus shared, “My opinion does not matter in this country.”
Other students were neither fiercely for, nor staunchly against the idea of voting. Instead, they float in a middle ground of uncertainty. For some, it is a lack of information on candidates or policies that keeps them from voting confidently. Kyle Ortiz, a student kept busy by work and school, said of the general election, “I didn’t know that was coming up to be honest, I’ve been kind of outta the loop with news.”
Overall emotions varied regarding the choice to vote. Some were strongly for it, others staying firm in their choices of not doing so. Though many responded that they will indeed vote, few expressed extremely enthusiastic excitement about the upcoming election. More often than not, responses of those choosing to vote came with tones of slight, though evident, reluctance.
Many students on the Westminster campus responded that they were planning to vote in the general election this year. Jorge Estrada, one of these respondents, said, as far as voting being a civic duty or wanting their voice to be heard, that “I think it’s a little bit of both.” They also commented that “I haven’t really paid too much attention to what they have to offer, so I still have to do my research and stuff on that to make a good decision,”also stating they were planning to vote as “It’s like my first year that I’m able to [do so].”
A couple of students that were asked by The Front Page believe that voting is incredibly important to their and society’s roles in democracy. Phoenix, for whom this is the first election they have an opportunity to participate in, responded that “I’m voting this year because I feel like it’s one of the most important things you can do to make a change. If you don’t vote, you’re not giving your voice, and I feel that if you vote – no matter what you vote for – you’re providing your feedback to this country.”
Another student was very enthusiastic about voting, clarifying that “I don’t care what people say about voting! ‘Oh, Green Party means throwing away your vote!’ Vote how you want to! But we saw what happens when you don’t vote: shit goes to hell!” They continued their enthusiasm, expressing that “I think voting’s really important to making sure that you have a say in democracy. If we throw away our votes, then we’re contributing to democracy dying.”
Some are not as eager as others, however. Emerson, one such student and one who is planning to vote by mail, responded that they were voting because “there are some people that I’d rather not have run this country” and that they were “Definitely [voting] against something.” They also expressed some distaste for voting, saying “Politics aren’t my favorite thing. It’s… it’s annoying! … I think someday I will be [excited about voting], but not right now. This will be my first time voting, so it’s a little nerve-wracking, I guess.”
Overall, despite these opinions, some Westminster students interviewed by The Front Page said they did not plan to vote, and many of these students were not willing to answer on the subject of voting when asked.
As this partnership with KUNC continues, there will be a lot in store for the future. The Front Page looks forward to covering how to vote, what will be on the ballot, and the upcoming election day.
