Editors of the Spartan before Tuesday’s election talked about what to do as far as endorsing a candidate. In the end, they decided they would offer their thoughts individually and their reasons behind their decisions.  The Spartan was printed after election day.

This presidential election, I am voting for Kamala Harris. 

To preface, I don’t enjoy the way the two-party voting system is set up. I believe it polarizes our country and reduces the number of perspectives, which in return forces voters into polarizing extremes. 

It pressures voters to settle for “lesser evil” choices, which often sidelines nuanced issues. It discourages independent or third-party voices, limiting true representation and often leading to voter passiveness.

With that said, I am voting for Kamala Harris. The biggest reason I am voting for Kamala is because of her commitment to addressing climate change. In my opinion, climate change is one of the most pressing issues we face today. 

Harris’ policies show she supports a transition to 100% clean energy by 2050, investing heavily in renewable resources to make that vision a reality. Her policies prioritize environmental justice by protecting vulnerable communities that bear the end of pollution and climate-related risks. Harris not only supports the fight against climate change but also sees it as an opportunity to build a more sustainable and equitable economy. 

The way Harris stands for women’s rights also strongly influences my support. She has been an advocate for gender equality and for elevating women to leadership positions, which allows for more diverse voices in decision-making. 

Something that really influenced my endorsement of Harris is honestly influenced by the way she talks about women versus the way Trump does. He has made numerous derogatory remarks about women’s appearances and belittles female leaders by calling them “nasty” and using racist comments like “Pocahontas” to demean their achievements and degrade their character. 

Harris’s advocacy for women’s rights and equality stands in contrast to Trump’s disparaging approach. Trump has faced allegations from over two dozen women, all claiming instances of sexual misconduct and was seen recorded on camera by “Access Hollywood” boasting about grabbing women inappropriately without consent. 

Harris’s commitment to addressing Trump’s negative treatment of women and holding him accountable for his actions solidifies my vote. 

Harris has been clear in her stance against this type of behavior, viewing it as unacceptable from any leader. By voting for her, I’m supporting a candidate who values respect, equality, and the empowerment of women.

-Em Ely

In this presidential election I have voted for Kamala Harris. I am pretty young, and I don’t understand everything there is to know about politics so I feel hesitant to speak up on anything because I feel there will always be someone who knows more and can articulate their knowledge better than I can. That being said, as I prepared for this election, I wanted to keep things simple with who’s values align most with mine. Of course, I care about my life and the lives around me and how they will be affected and I found that I was more in tune with Harris’s goals than with Trump’s.

Her advocacy for Women’s Rights is a huge reason I am voting for her. I think it has been far too long that women’s healthcare gets swept under the rug and I think as a woman she will be way more conscious of how her decisions affect the women in the nation. Not only do I stand with her thoughts on Women’s Rights but also on topics of human rights and gender equality. The way in which she speaks about women is very empowering compared to her opponent, which is something I found extremely admirable. I personally would not want to vote for someone who resorts to childish insults when it comes to a debate. With Harris as president, I would feel noticed and safe. Much more so than with her opponent. 

I also greatly appreciate the way she addresses the younger generations. She always says that she loves Gen Z because they are so impatient. I love the way she values the minds of the youth. She understands that younger generations are the future and wants to know what we think and want and she seems to support us. The choice of who to vote for was always pretty obvious for me, personally. My values align much more with Harris and for the first time in a long time I am excited to see what the President will do for our country. For the first time it doesn’t feel like I’m just voting for the lesser of two evils.

-Jess Emery

This election has been incredibly difficult for me to navigate, namely because of my faith as a Christian. The last thing I want to do is misrepresent the faith that transformed my life for the better a year and a half ago, as I know it can for anyone. This election, only about half of Christians are projected to vote, meaning 104 million Christians are likely to sit out the presidential election, according to research findings from Arizona Christian University released in October. 

Although I do agree with some of Trump’s policies, I understand he is not representative of the Christian disposition. I don’t necessarily believe in every allegation made against Trump, since I believe every claim should be investigated individually. To this point, I’ve recently come across widespread stories from Jeffrey Goldbergh at The Atlantic that are reliably discredited or based entirely on anonymous sources, which I hardly believe is good reporting. However, I do condemn many statements from him towards many people groups, and statements made by supporters of the campaign, such as the incredibly vulgar jokes made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at the recent Madison Square Garden rally, to name one. 

I feel torn between my alignment in some respects with the Republican party and Trump’s problematic past and disposition. I also have not seen any advocacy for religious freedoms by Harris either. Despite staying up for the past three nights until 2 a.m. watching debates and Christian perspectives, I can’t give a solid endorsement. The message I do want to share though, is that Christian’s should take this matter to God, inform themselves, and vote according to their convictions. And we’re called to pray for our leaders and country, no matter who it is! 

-Pearl Bellomo

The 2024 election has brought to light the extreme division of our nation and serves as a reminder of the difficulties of interacting with one another. I know that myself and many people in this country see us caught in a national split during the present election season, making it harder and harder to see things from the same perspective. It’s difficult to ignore the ongoing hostility and violence that appear to dominate conversations about the nation’s future, regardless of which candidate we support.

I’m voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz this year because I think her background and viewpoint may lead us to growth and unification. My views and thoughts for a more equitable and inclusive future are in line with Harris’s views on topics like healthcare, education, and climate change. Even in the face of obstacles, I respect her perseverance and her history of advocating for change. Many young people, who seek a government that is dedicated to practical solutions and represents a range of experiences, find connections in Harris’ visions. As a woman, I also fear for the future where my reproductive rights are not protected. I fear of the thought of me, my future daughter, my sister, my best friend or my mother not being able to get the resources they need one day. 

Although I respect her leadership, I am also aware that other people have similar passion for their candidates and believe that different tactics or ideas will benefit the country more. It’s disheartening to observe that this intensity often leads to separation in our country rather than encouraging candid communication. This division has only gotten worse due to the increase of false information, discussion forums, and online rivalry. Social media plays a crucial part in any election for getting candidates’ words out, but it’s also an outlet for verbal harassment to both parties, giving the impression that we can only value our own point of view.

Regardless of the result, I believe everyone should remember that we are all working for a better future for this country as we approach this election. The only way to bridge the gaps that threaten to split us apart is to listen to one another, even if we have different ideas about how to get there. Ultimately, what counts is that we strive for a country that respects and values the voices of all people.

-Maddie Lindgren

When it comes to presidential elections, I tend to not really care too much at the end of the day. I have never voted and didn’t vote this year. Personally, I don’t really care all that much about politics as a whole, but I also don’t feel as though my vote means all that much at the end of the day due to the ultimate vote being decided by the electoral college. 

Now, in some swing states, a singular vote has more weight than in a state that is already known to be red or blue. 

I personally just feel that it is not the end of the world if my vote is cast. I do not pay attention to politics in the slightest nor do I have any desire to based on how divided it makes the country. At the end of the day, does a vote matter? In my opinion, kind of, but it just gives the electoral college an idea of what the majority of a state wants in terms of a vote. 

One thing that does not sit right with me about the whole voting process is that the electoral college in most states does not have to follow the popular vote in that state, but they almost always do. 

Even though they always do end up going with the popular vote, something about it just doesn’t sit right with me that only 29 states have laws that bind their electors to the popular vote results and that there isn’t a federal law or any provisions on a national level that require electors to vote with the popular vote. 

-Stone Stelzl