The 2020 election is officially less than a year away. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 voters will take to the polls to vote for the next President of the United States. Students on campus have already begun educating themselves on different candidates.
Northwestern Campus Democrats, a student group led by Caleb Arnett and Noah Karmann, have already held a few meetings to discuss the upcoming election and candidates.
“The 2020 election is important because it will set the precedent for acceptable behavior in the Oval Office for years and quite possibly decades,” Arnett said. “Being informed is always essential to cast a good vote, and there is nothing different about this cycle.”
Another NW student group, College Republicans, have also held meetings to discuss their views and how students can get informed.
“My hope is to prepare everyone to be able to engage the other side on their ideas, and not stoop to leveling character attacks,” said Carter Behler, chairman for the College Republicans. “I have sent multiple articles and talked about many news stories with my group and have told them multiple ways they can prepare. This mainly comes from staying up to date on the news and the issues.”
Before the final vote, the Iowa caucuses are set to take place on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. This is a time when political parties nominate their general election candidates. Party members gather together and talk about their preferences for president and discuss about the important factors that make up their party’s platform.
“Campus Dems are offering students opportunities to engage with the election process hands on and to prepare them to make an educated vote not just next November but in the Caucus as well,” Arnett said.
During the Democratic caucus, voters physically separate in the room based on the candidate they support. A Republican caucus looks a bit different. During their caucus, they cast their votes of support.
Candidates have visited Orange City during past elections and this year has been no different. Bernie Sanders appeared at Prairie Winds Event Center on Nov. 10 about the Green New Deal and how he will create jobs in rural Iowa.
“Being informed on elections is so important,” said Kelsey Lang, a senior political science major. “We have the right and the privilege to elect our leaders, so we should be responsible with this freedom.”
To vote for the upcoming election, students need to make sure the are registered. If they haven’t already done so, students can download a voter registration form online and return the completed form to their local county auditor. Students can also register online with a driver’s license or non-operator’s ID.
