Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/elections-politics/first-time-voters/)
Google was created in 1998. Eight years later Facebook was launched. Fast forward to 2006 and Twitter. In 2010, Instagram was created.
In the past two decades, the number of social media platforms has expanded significantly. All of these and the many other forms of media have allowed news to move across the world in seconds.
Long lines during election days left many Michiganders frustrated, with supporters of Bernie Sanders finding particular fault with election hold ups.
Gordon Trowbridge, spokesman for Slotkin’s re-election campaign, said from a campaign standpoint, he has noticed a difference this year in public participation. Trowbridge said it seems like voters are aware this is a big moment for Michigan because a lot of national issues addressed can also have a significant impact on a local level. For example, concerns about medical costs and water quality is at the top of that list.
“What was successful for Slotkin in 2018 and so far this year, was to be pragmatic toward these issues,” he said. “Slotkin has said participating in the choice-making is one of the most important symbols to show love for the country.”
Slotkin decided before voting took place to publicly endorse Democrat Joe Biden in the year’s primary.
Infographic listing some of the candidates and topics voters may have seen on their ballot. Credit: Lauren Buchko
Trowbridge said he has definitely noticed a higher turnout during campaign events. “Slotkin realizes there’s a lot of attention on Michigan during the primaries,” he said. “It’s kind of like a ‘ground zero’ when it comes to a campaign.”
Representing the district
Trowbridge said it’s quite a bit of work for Slotkin to represent Michigan while in Washington D.C. because of the complicated schedule, but she works to represent as best as she can.
With the 2020 presidential election top of mind, some Meridian Township residents said they want a leader with a strong moral compass and who will improve the health care system.
Sarah Howard, a Meridian Township resident, said even though she doesn’t keep up with the candidates’ positions, she wants to see a huge change. “I don’t think our healthcare system makes any sense,” said Howard. “I appreciate that we are trying to move toward a socialized health care system, but I do not think the current system makes financial sense.”
Howard is also concerned that social media may become a greater issue with the next leader elected in office. She wishes media would report on more real issues instead of hot topics. Howard said: “I think most of the other changes I want to see are more social than something that has to do directly with the presidency.
Young voters will go to this year’s polls with information they’ve obtained through their experiences, their peers and maybe even their parents. Will they follow their parents, or rebel? Christopher Ojeda, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, studies that. He did a study called “Accounting for the Child in the Transmission of Party Identification,” in 2015. He said household party affiliation can make it easier for young voters to decide. But affiliations might not be helpful in this Democratic primary.
“In a general election when there are two candidates … it’s kind of easy for kids to use the party identification to make decisions about who to support,” he said.
In this edition of Focal Point, the director of MSU Museums is suspended for keeping his sources under wraps. Vice President MIke Pence visits Lansing and things are heating up in the Democrats. Michigan’s primary is on March 10, and we speak with Lansing’s city clerk to learn about voting in the primary.
Marking the true beginning of the 2020 election season, the Iowa caucus took place Monday, Feb. 3, though results were still coming in Tuesday night.
The Iowa Caucus has a long-standing tradition of being one of the first organized gatherings of individuals to vote for who they believe should lead their party.
At the South Lansing Library on Tuesday, Jan. 28, Voters Not Politicians held a workshop to educate the public on the Citizens Redistricting Commission, which will draw the new district lines in Michigan. Voters Not Politicians is the nonprofit organization that helped get the anti-gerrymandering Proposal 2 on the 2018 ballot.
State of MichiganGretchen Driskell
EAST LANSING – Michigan House of Representatives Democratic candidate Gretchen Driskell spoke at a Feb. 3 event for James Madison College Kennedy Democrats.
“She is an incredibly optimistic and hardworking candidate who is very excited to bring about progressive change in Washington, D.C.,” said Jasper Martus, president of the Kennedy Democrats. Driskell is running in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District to turn the traditionally Republican district blue by defeating incumbent Tim Walberg.
“Tim Walberg is basically your average Republican Congressperson,” said Trevor Jones, a Driskell campaign staffer. “Walberg isn’t creating any new policy. He just kind of sits back, floats along and votes with Trump 98% of the time.”
Jones, a recent University of Michigan graduate, previously worked on Driskell’s campaign as an intern and jumped at the opportunity to work with her again.
“Gretchen is just the perfect candidate,” Jones said.
On March 10, 15 Democrats and four Republicans will be on the presidential primary election ballot. With Michigan’s new voting laws approved in November 2018, it is easier than ever to vote. Michigan now allows registered voters to request absentee ballots from their local or city clerks’ office without giving an excuse. According to the Secretary of State’s office, applications for an absentee ballot must be filled out in writing. The deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot is 5 p.m. March 6.
East Lansing High School students had a taste of the 2020 presidential election spotlight Tuesday as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer came to their school to give the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union message.