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With the mid-term election underway, people are pouring into the polling places, and while each voter places different significance on certain issues, most agree that getting out to vote is the most important thing. KSMU’s Justin Lux reports.
This isn’t Russ Shaw’s first rodeo.
“It’s a privilege that I have being a citizen of this country. I mean, I think that’s important for us to do that, I always have. I’ve never missed one since, well, the first election I voted in was 1960 believe it or not and I was in Okinawa at the time, I was in the military,” says Shaw.
He says the politicians Americans vote for is what really counts.
“The propositions are important, I recognize that. But if we don’t have the right people there to execute those propositions and do what the voters want, so I think it’s more important the people we put into office, that’s my feeling,” he says.
David Dixon, who came to the Trinity Lutheran Church on Holland to cast his vote, says he also places more importance on the candidates than he does the constitutional amendments.
“The candidates, I think, will be driving any policy procedural changes more so than the amendments,” Dixon says.
On the other side, there are those young voters, the ones who came out strong in the 2008 presidential election. Many predict those younger voters will be much less of a presence during this year’s midterm elections. As a 24-year old self-proclaimed “liberal,” B.J. Hursh says he places an importance on exercising his right to vote.
“Maybe as a young liberal I am very adamant about not being one of those very worst kinds of young liberals who talk a big game but don’t really follow through,” Says Hursh.
As the election continues, a close eye will be kept on the Senate race between Republican Roy Blunt and Democrat Robin Carnahan. Also, here in southwest Missouri, the 7th District Congressional race between Billy Long, Scott Eckersley and Kevin Craig has grabbed many headlines.
For KSMU News, I’m Justin Lux.