UWM Students have begun early voting at the Helene Zelazo Center, many casting their first ballots for a presidential race.

The opportunity for early voting began on Oct. 22 and will end on Nov. 3. Many students have taken advantage of this opportunity, contributing to the already over 1.3 million ballots cast in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

“I decided to vote early this year because I’m an active student, and I don’t really have time,” said a UWM student, “I’m here, I’ll just vote.” 

Saturday and Sunday hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This weekend will be the last chance for students to vote early before election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

One UWM student had trouble in the previous election, so they opted for early voting. “I had a stressful time in the 2020 election, and I waited like four hours in line,” the student said.

The front of the Zelazo Center with a sign giving directions on where to go to vote early. Credit: Ethan Ainley

A few students registered and voted at the polls at the same time. An out-of-state student needed to provide an official UWM Voter ID and proof of residence to do this. This opportunity will still be available for out-of-state students on election day. 

“My vote can make a difference in this community,” said a UWM student. “I voted to just make a change.” 

The two issues most important to the students who the UWM Post talked with were abortion/women’s rights and the middle class/economy. 

“I think that there’s so much riding on who wins that it’s important to my freedoms,” a female UWM student said. 

Students also shared which candidate they voted for and gave opinions on the two. 

“Harris definitely defines what a real president is,” one student said, “One who cares for the community and the one who cares for the people.” 

Another student shared that they voted for the candidate they want to win, but they believe the election results will go the other way. 

“I feel one of the candidates seems equipped to be the president,” they said. “And somebody else seems to be taking their own routes about the whole candidacy.” 

Most students felt the campus did a good job getting out the word to students on voting. 

One UWM student said that it was helpful, “Having people out here with cards saying this is where you can vote, and this is where you can vote early.” 

UWM implored email, tabling events, social media, banners/flyers around campus and educated students. 

“I appreciated all the emails about early voting,” a student said, “I wouldn’t have known that this was there.” 

Sign posted outside the polls. Credit: Ethan Ainley

However, there was also some criticism of UWM and how they went about motivating students to vote. 

One UWM student felt all the tables and information about voting weren’t organized or placed well on campus.  

“You’re just trying to get to class, and you get asked by like five people, ‘Are you registered to vote?’” the student said. “I think they could just set up a table in the dorms or the lunchroom, something like that.” 

One student expressed disappointment in the visit from Kamala Harris and what they felt was a random selection of students chosen to attend the event. 

The UWM student felt that it was an opportunity for the campus to get the student body invigorated to go out and vote. 

“I would have liked to have an opportunity to receive an invitation,” the student said. 

The student later acknowledged the security concerns around the event.

Other issues up for vote on the ballot are a voting referendum and local races such as incumbent Ryan Clancy running for re-election. 

More resources for voting as it relates to students can be found here

Journalism Major and Film Minor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

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