Like many other students at Boise State University, Brandon Udager, a 20-year-old Applied Math major, made the choice to vote for the first time in the 2024 presidential election. While he believes that voting is important to advocate for what he believes in, he understands why some of his peers don’t feel the same way.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity but it’s dulled by lackluster candidates. I’m really not passionate about either candidate here,” Udager said. “The way the environment is around the election these days makes it really unexciting. It’s hostile. In a way, that makes it scary to even talk about or be proud of anything related to the election.”
On Nov. 5, 2024, college students around the country were asked to place their vote during one of the most divisive election cycles the United States has seen.
“I think that older generations make assumptions that our generation is uneducated in politics,” Mac Cochrane, an 18-year-old Political Science major, said. “The events that our generation has experienced [such as] COVID-19 and the Jan. 6 insurrection have resulted in our generation wanting to be more involved and educated in politics.”
Over the span of two weeks leading up to General Election Day, The Arbiter set out to ask students how they were really feeling about the political divide.
The role of social pressures and political polarization
Christian Linkde is an adjunct professor at Boise State University in the Political Science Department. As a scholar of political behavior and psychology, Linkde finds passion in working with and educating young voices.
“I worked for a long time in civic engagement, and there’s always been the view that young people don’t care. That they’re apathetic and that they don’t know anything. I think those are misconceptions,” Linkde said. “Young people are thoughtful. They’re engaged and they’re participating. Like every young generation, they’re filled with hope and optimism.”
Some students on Boise State University’s campus consider voting to be a decision larger than themselves. Manny Monreal, a 19-year-old Film and Television major, was a first time-voter at the polls.
Monreal believes that his vote holds considerable weight, as he and his family are of Hispanic descent.
“To be honest, I am unsure who to vote for,” Monreal said. “Voting for Trump seems [like] an easy answer, but I want to give Kamala Harris a fair chance to know what she wants for the country with her policies as well.”
While Monreal was uncertain how he would cast his ballot, he said that he hopes his choice will positively impact current and future generations. Similar to many other students, Monreal has fears that sharing his political beliefs with his friends may lead to debate or even lost friendships.
“The majority of my peers do not talk about voting often,” Monreal said. “I believe that young people have a lot of information about the election, the candidates and their policies. The problem is that people on the internet are extremely divided, making people afraid to share their opinions because of the potential outburst of arguments.”
Syd Lochridge, a 20-year-old undeclared major, believes there are misconceptions about her generation’s media consumption habits.
According to a voluntary study previously conducted by The Arbiter, students at Boise State are more likely to consume political content and news via social media than traditional media outlets, such as print and television news.
“I believe that older generations think we are less engaged, or at least less informed, with politics. With older people, I get the impression that they think I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Lochridge said. “These assumptions are wrong. I think they could stem from the fact that younger generations don’t rely on traditional media to get their news anymore, but instead use the internet and social media. Older generations may not see this as a valid source of information.”
Lochridge notes that while there is an excitement about voting amongst her peers, a sense of cynicism still lingers.
“In a Republican state with gerrymandered districts, it does feel like my vote has been rendered useless. Additionally, I am disappointed with the Democrat’s response to the situation in Palestine, and feel my vote will go towards someone who will continue to fund the violence. I will still vote based on other issues and wanting to do my part as a citizen,” Lochridge said. “I am still hopeful that I will get to see positive changes in the world within my lifetime. There are a lot of issues that, if they aren’t resolved now, will cause future generations to suffer greatly.”
The last time Idaho voted blue in a presidential election was in 1964, with Democratic candidate Lyndon B. Johnson winning 50.92% of the vote against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, with 49.08%.
Women’s reproductive health at a state and national level
The 2024 presidential election marks the first since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Idaho currently has a total abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. The only current exception to this law is in the case of rape or incest — with the requirement that it is documented and reported to law enforcement within the first trimester of pregnancy.
In a statewide survey conducted by Boise State University’s School of Public Service, 57.9% of Idahoans would prefer if this policy was reworked.
In regards to the reasons young voters in Idaho lean towards specific candidates, Linkde notes that policy and identity have proven to play a large factor in decision making each election cycle.
“It’s rare, historically rare, that candidates are the thing that drives young voters. I’m not going to say all discussions [surrounding the elections] are about policy, but they’re definitely about political identity,” Linkde said. “This [election season], I think abortion has been a big factor for a number of voters. Certainly since Trump’s election, women have been activated on a number of issues.”
Aspen Scarlotte, a 21-year-old Sociology and Criminal Justice major at Boise State University, feels discouraged by the state of politics in Idaho. Scarlotte considers women’s reproductive health to be a dominant issue that guided the way she navigated this election cycle.
Despite being registered as an unaffiliated voter, Scarolette works with the Democratic Party and has experience canvassing for various Democratic candidates in Blaine County.
“As I get older, there are a lot of issues that hit a little bit harder than they used to. I love our state, so I will be voting nationally and locally,” Scarolette said. “I’m very excited to vote and very proud to say that I’m part of a change; or at least trying to be. I’m proud that [in my role] I can inform people, which is the most exciting part of my job.”
According to the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare, Idaho is struggling to retain and recruit new obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYN) due to recent abortion bans that took effect throughout the state. With an estimated ratio of about 2.22 OBGYNs per 10,000 women, Idaho ranks as one of the lowest states in the country for women’s healthcare access.
Idaho’s near-total abortion ban puts doctors at risk of being charged with a felony or imprisoned when put in the position of providing or recommending life-saving medical care to a patient.
“A lot of people think of [women’s reproductive health] as only abortion rights. We only have about six high risk pregnancy specialists in Idaho. Everything is so restrictive,” Scarlotte said. “People aren’t moving here because it’s scary. I do think women should have the right to choose — and I know that’s very controversial. I think we should keep religion out of our laws and policies.”
Former President Trump currently does not support a federal abortion ban and believes that states should be able to determine their individual views on abortion, by vote or legislation.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state,” Trump said in a video shared via social media in April.
Meanwhile, Harris has made reproductive rights a central point of her campaign. According to Harris’ campaign website “when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, [Harris] will sign it.”
“The ability to vote is a hard won privilege that should not be shied away from. My wife’s, and all women’s, rights are at stake. I took an oath to support and defend the constitution,” Scott Schmick, a 37-year-old Criminal Justice major at Boise State University, said. “[The political climate at Boise State University] is diverse and active. I’m glad to see all the young students who eagerly engage, whatever their views.”
Accessibility challenges and indifference
Cory Kwan, a 25-year-old Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major, made the choice to not to vote in the election. When Kwan moved from Caldwell, Idaho to Boise, he found complications in accessing his assigned polling station.
“I’ve had too many experiences of driving thirty to forty-five minutes to Caldwell from Boise and not being able to vote,” Kwan said. “That’s a small part of it. The other part of it is that I don’t feel adequately represented by either candidate. I don’t feel like my choice really has much impact on my life.”
Kwan grew up in a Republican family and considers himself fairly conservative. As a college student and broadcast producer, he finds himself constantly surrounded by political conversation.
“There’s not enough of a party to make a big push in the direction I would want it to go,” Kwan said. “I’m in my mid twenties. I don’t even know what I want at this point of my life, so it’s just an overwhelming thing to think about. I have to pick between two people that I don’t necessarily agree with.”
The word Kwan described this election cycle as “divisive”.
Luke Sterward, a 23-year-old Illustration major, shared a similar sentiment. As an out-of-state student and registered voter in Oregon, Steward believes his vote would not impact the election, as Oregon has a history of voting blue since 1988.
“I would vote Harris if I was [going to vote]. I wish I had the energy to participate. [It’s] hard to work for future generations when I’m struggling with just myself, much less those who come after me,” Steward said. “I think everyone is just tired and wants the madness to be over with. We’ve all got enough on our plates without worrying about the state of the country.”
Julianne Ellis, a 20-year-old Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major, had a difficult time receiving her absentee ballot as an out-of-state student. Despite these frustrations, she believes her vote is important.
“I had to wait a really long time for it to get here and I just wish I could have an easier way to vote like the students that live here do,” Ellis said. “My ballot got mailed to the wrong address and I had to call a bunch of people to make sure I could still be able to vote.”
“I think the world is filled with a bunch of amazing young people who will change the world in amazing ways, some for the better, some for the worst.” Linkde said. “That’s the nature of the beast. I think we are unfair to young people when we are dismissive of them.”
