By Blace Carpenter and Alexa Cheaney
Michigan held its Presidential Primary on Feb. 27, with Joe Biden winning 81% in the Democratic vote and Donald Trump winning 68.2% in the Republican vote. Candidates like Nikki Haley, Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson, who has re-entered the race after appearing on the ballot, fell far behind in the polls. Across the country, Americans are starting to have a sense of deja vu as Biden and Trump once again lead the race.
For many college students, this marks their first time voting in a presidential election. The Collegiate reached out to student leaders across Grand Rapids Community College to get their thoughts on the presidential primary and the importance of voting.
“I think it’s important, especially for the younger groups, college students and anybody to vote because just by you voting, you are acknowledging you are politically aware of what’s going on and you are doing your part as a citizen in America to forward whatever you believe is best,” said Black Africana Student Union (BASU) President Tyrell Jackson. “If you just choose not to vote, then you are leaving it to people who you might not have the same views as…you are basically just letting any policy that happens just control your life.”
A poll created by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV in January found that only 28.8% of Michigan voters in college were very unsatisfied with the candidates.
In Tuesday’s primary, voters had the option to vote “uncommitted,” which is an electoral strategy led by cease-fire activists who are protesting Biden’s support for Israel. The tally for uncommitted votes within the Democratic Party was 13.3% or 101,100 of the votes. The Republican party tallied 33,404, or 3%, uncommitted votes.
President of The Democrats at GRCC, Alex Toren, acknowledges that while Biden is the preferred democratic candidate to many voters, a clear chunk of the party is unhappy with the current administration.
“A large group of Democratic voters are upset with the president and his administration, or wanted a different choice,” Toren stated. “Either way, the (Biden administration) took a large majority and we congratulate him on victory in our state. But make no mistake that if the Biden administration does not change its approach on the crisis in Gaza, he will lose key voters in November.”
Student Government President Alex Miranda shared his thoughts on why he voted “uncommitted.”
“…During this election cycle I’ve experienced the urge to vote uncommitted as no candidate has earned my vote. I hate how it looks like Trump will be the GOP nominee, but also Joe Biden being the Democratic nominee doesn’t excite me neither,” Miranda stated. “Overall, I feel like politicians, specifically the Democratic Party, need to truly listen to college students/young voters to earn our votes. One of the main issues that I need a nominee to support for me to support them is aiding and recognizing Palestine.”
As of Wednesday morning, Biden is leading the candidates with 206 delegates and Trump leads with 122. The official nomination for the Republican presidential candidate will be announced at the Republican National Convention in July, and the official Democratic nominee will be finalized at the Democratic National Convention one month later.
If you are not registered to vote or have questions about your polling location, visit the Michigan Secretary of State or read our guide on how to prepare for an upcoming election.
