Students and employees at American University on Tuesday said although this year’s presidential election seems more contentious than those in the past, voting still should be a priority.
Most agreed voting is an important part of being an American citizen, and said those refusing to vote in an election is a disservice.
“Crazy presidents happen when people don’t vote,” said George Howard, 18, who will vote in his first election in November.
Kathryn Ray, 65, an American University library researcher and former president of the League of Women Voters, said voters may never find a perfect candidate, but said voters should look for “one that best represents you.”
Ray empathizes with younger voters who may be dissatisfied with this year’s top two presidential candidates.
A Quinnipiac University poll from June showed among millennial voters, third party candidates were gaining ground against the two major parties, but still 6 percent of them said they’d stay home rather than cast a ballot.
But Pam Rivers-Salisbury, an 18-year-old American University student, won’t be among that number.
“Everyone should vote,” Rivers-Salisbury said. “If someone tells me they’re voting for [Donald] Trump, I don’t care. I’d be proud of them for voting.”