Afternoon voters discuss 2022 midterm elections experience
November 8, 2022
Contributions to this piece were made by Northern Star writers Eddie Drinkwine, Evan Mellon, Joseph Howerton and Sarah Rose.
DeKALB – See what individuals voting in DeKalb around 2 p.m. at the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center and Taylor Street Plaza have to say about their voting experience for the 2022 midterm elections.
Sabrina Hunley
Sabrina Hunley, a DeKalb resident speaking with Northern Star news writer Eddie Drinkwine after she voted Tuesday afternoon. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No.”
When was your first time voting?
“It was the 2020 presidential election.”
Have you found it difficult to vote?
“Not at all. It’s easy to register, and I live right down the street.”
What made you vote today?
“I always try to exercise my right to vote, and I think it’s important everybody does, so I always try to make the time to do it.”
How do you feel about voting?
“I think I could definitely do more research about some of the things we vote for because there are some things I don’t really know anything about.”
Who did you vote for?
“For governor, I voted for Darren Bailey.”
What issues do you think are most important?
“For me the economy and all the inflation. Just Illinois debt to income ratio and how Illinois spends their money are some of the things I care about.”
Do you think this midterm is important?
“I think they always always are. A lot of people don’t vote during this time because people mainly just vote during the presidential election. Like I said, there’s a lot of people you vote for during midterms, it’s not just governor, congress or senate.”
Brianna Abba
Brianna Abba, a graduate student studying biological anthropology at NIU, after voting on Tuesday at the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No. It is my first one in Illinois.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“Found it very easy, especially considering I also had to change states. I was a little concerned that it was going to be more complicated to change my voting from California to Illinois. I did it online. I still brought every document I could possibly think of, and I needed none of it and it was very painless.”
Why did you vote today?
“I just think that voting is a very important part of living in a world where you’re allowed to vote. We worked really hard to get to a point where everyone has a say. I know sometimes it feels like you’re not heard or things don’t go your way, but I don’t think that should diminish your ability to do it; and it’s your way to say what you want and feel like at least you’re making a difference.”
Marlin Price Sr.
Marlin Price Sr., a resident of DeKalb leaving his polling place after voting on Tuesday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“No, second time.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“It was easier.”
Were there any difficulties last time?
“No, not at all. As a matter of fact it was about the same as last time. All the questions kind of like feel like doing an ACT school test. Filling the blanks.”
How do you feel about voting?
“I feel like it’s almost, like, it’s good because you definitely want people that represent you. But then, it’s kind of like a gift and a curse because, I don’t know, a lot of votes are built, politicians are built on lies. So, they’ll tell you one thing then they’ll switch another one … Definitely, you know, you should be true to your word. One of the greatest persons on there that I voted for is Lauren Underwood. It seems like a lot of people like her from both sides, liberal as well as conservatives – Republican, Democrat, Independent. So, she stands by what she says and she also get a lot of support from even the Republican party. But a lot of things have to change.”
Jennifer Young
Jennifer Young, a DeKalb resident, speaking with Northern Star news writer Eddie Drinkwine after she voted Tuesday afternoon. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)
When was your first time voting?
“In the 2000s.”
Did you have any difficulty voting?
“No.”
Why did you vote today?
“To make my opinion be heard.”
What issues are most important this election?
“Probably women’s rights. I feel like that’s the biggest one with fair and equal rights for everyone and just making sure that justice is served … I think midterms are important because sometimes they represent more of the people’s voice than the giant general election.”
Genesis Dunn
Freshman Genesis Dunn, an NIU art education major at NIU, standing outside after voting on Tuesday at the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Is this your first time voting?
“Yes.”
Did you find the process easy or was it difficult?
“I found it pretty easy because I got registered during the fair thing, so it was easy – I could just walk in.”
Why did you vote?
“I voted because I feel, like, now that I’m an adult and I actually know what politics are, I feel like our votes count, whether people believe it or not.”
Amira Ogbara
From left: Christian Williams, Amira Ogbara and Jonathan Franklin stand outside of their polling place after going to vote together Tuesday on campus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Was the voting process easy?
“No, it was difficult. It’s not as transparent as it should be.”
What issues did you run into?
“Misinformation. They (another polling place) told us one place was our voting place and it wasn’t. They did it twice. They ripped up our paper and everything after they made us stand in line.”
Why did you vote today?
“Voting is something that’s important to my family. I woke up to a text message from my dad like ‘go vote’.”
Is this your first time voting?
“Second.”
Christian Williams
From left: Christian Williams, Amira Ogbara and Jonathan Franklin stand outside of their polling place after going to vote together Tuesday on campus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Was the voting process easy?
“No.”
What issues did you run into?
“There was a long line.”
Is this your first time voting?
“This is my first time.”
Jonathan Franklin
From left: Christian Williams, Amira Ogbara and Jonathan Franklin stand outside of their polling place after going to vote together Tuesday on campus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)
Was the voting process easy?
“It was difficult for sure.”
What issues did you run into?
“I had to change my voting place.”
Why did you vote today?
“They (Christian Williams and Amira Ogbara) told me to.”
Is this your first time voting?
“This is my second.”