By Grace Huffstetler OMAHA, Neb- The 2024 Election has left a lot of shaken ground after Donald Trump was announced winner on Wednesday morning, November 6th. He won with a total of 312 electoral votes, including Nebraska.
Don Bacon was announced winner for the Nebraska House seat on Saturday. Deb Fischer secured her third term as Senator. Ballot initiatives such as paid sick leave and medicinal marijuana have been approved, except for measure 439, a right to allow abortion until fetal viability, was voted against.
Many first-time voters felt the pressure and the importance of this year’s election. UNO campus has helped their students get involved in the voting process.
“They told us, like, ‘if you need to go out to vote when you work, go out to vote. We will help you find coverage,;” says UNO student and assistant Tia Carpenter.
First-time voters felt both the pressure and the importance of this year’s election. Toni Monette, the assistant director of the Office of Engagement at UNO, felt that students had an easier and more fulfilling time voting this year.
“I think it brought more energy,” Monette says, “just to elections, to voting, to why it’s important to get involved, um. And I think they saw themselves in the candidates a bit more, and the process a bit more, like the issues they were talking about affected them.”
According to Monette, roughly 70% of students registered to vote in the 2020 election, the number being understandable given the pandemic. Though the exact numbers have not been released, she says this year’s turnout was just under 70%. Yet, the energy and involvement was a significant increase.
There may be some change coming to Omaha within the next few years, though it is uncertain. Many residents are concerned for their safety and rights. But students are encouraged to stay vigilant and pay close attention to those in office in Nebraska. And to look for future voting opportunities such as the Omaha Mayor election coming next spring.
Monette encourages her students to think about what issues can affect them.
“Think internally about what are your morals and values?” She says, “Are you seeing those represented in those people? And if not, say something about it.”
Visit The Office of Engagement at the Community Engagement Center to see how you can get involved with more voting opportunities.
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