Spring Break
On-, off-campus turnout same as past elections
Breann Schossow
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News
On the evening of the election, UW-Eau Claire students experienced a number of emotions ranging from anger to disappointment to joy.
Freshman Preston Schmidt, who voted for presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.), fell under the former categories.
"I was disappointed, nothing more, nothing less. I was (happier) for my girlfriend because she was crying in excitement," Schmidt said, whose girlfriend voted for President-elect Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Schmidt is one of many students who voted on campus.
Sophomore Paydon Miller, president of the College Democrats, said that voter turnout on campus for students was 81 percent.
"(It's) incredible. That's unheard of for a campus," Miller said.
On campus, voter turnout reached an unprecedented level while overall voter turnout remained the same in comparison to the November election four years ago.
City Clerk Donna Austad said, not specifically looking at overall student voter turnout (on and off campus), that she thinks the number is about the same amount in comparison to past November elections.
Austad said the overall voter turnout in Eau Claire was anticipated to be 90 percent but turnout was between 78 to 79 percent. The number of voters this year was the same as four years ago in the November election. Voter turnout this year in Eau Claire was more than 37,000 voters.
The population estimate of Eau Claire in 2006 is around 63,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Before the election, Miller said, students were very motivated about the election and a number of students took advantage of early registration and voting.
"I've been involved in politics for quite awhile but this is the most excited I've seen a single group of younger people," Miller said. "It was really, really cool to see so many people get excited about an election, especially the local elections."
Senior Lora Rae Anderson, first vice-chair of the College Republicans, said she thought the voter turnout among students and in Eau Claire was wonderful.
Anderson said she thought that in the time leading up to the election, there was a good example of bipartisanship between political parties on campus, especially when both groups were campaigning on the campus mall.
Schmidt said he voted for McCain for several reasons such as the war in Iraq, Obama's position on abortion and tax plans.
On the other hand, Miller said he voted for Obama for a number of reasons. He said he thinks that over the last eight years people have lost civil liberties and Obama will help restore them. Miller said he also agrees with Obama's plans for the war and tax plan.
Anderson said she hopes Obama will keep his promise to work across the aisle.
"People like him a lot; it's what America chose," Anderson said. "I think we should be as supportive as we can."
Freshman Preston Schmidt, who voted for presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.), fell under the former categories.
"I was disappointed, nothing more, nothing less. I was (happier) for my girlfriend because she was crying in excitement," Schmidt said, whose girlfriend voted for President-elect Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Schmidt is one of many students who voted on campus.
Sophomore Paydon Miller, president of the College Democrats, said that voter turnout on campus for students was 81 percent.
"(It's) incredible. That's unheard of for a campus," Miller said.
On campus, voter turnout reached an unprecedented level while overall voter turnout remained the same in comparison to the November election four years ago.
City Clerk Donna Austad said, not specifically looking at overall student voter turnout (on and off campus), that she thinks the number is about the same amount in comparison to past November elections.
Austad said the overall voter turnout in Eau Claire was anticipated to be 90 percent but turnout was between 78 to 79 percent. The number of voters this year was the same as four years ago in the November election. Voter turnout this year in Eau Claire was more than 37,000 voters.
The population estimate of Eau Claire in 2006 is around 63,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Before the election, Miller said, students were very motivated about the election and a number of students took advantage of early registration and voting.
"I've been involved in politics for quite awhile but this is the most excited I've seen a single group of younger people," Miller said. "It was really, really cool to see so many people get excited about an election, especially the local elections."
Senior Lora Rae Anderson, first vice-chair of the College Republicans, said she thought the voter turnout among students and in Eau Claire was wonderful.
Anderson said she thought that in the time leading up to the election, there was a good example of bipartisanship between political parties on campus, especially when both groups were campaigning on the campus mall.
Schmidt said he voted for McCain for several reasons such as the war in Iraq, Obama's position on abortion and tax plans.
On the other hand, Miller said he voted for Obama for a number of reasons. He said he thinks that over the last eight years people have lost civil liberties and Obama will help restore them. Miller said he also agrees with Obama's plans for the war and tax plan.
Anderson said she hopes Obama will keep his promise to work across the aisle.
"People like him a lot; it's what America chose," Anderson said. "I think we should be as supportive as we can."
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