Virginia Houk is an English and creative writing student who calls the state of Texas home. She holds in her hand a completed absentee ballot for this years election. The moment she finds a mailbox, shes sending it to be counted.
I was three months shy of being able to vote last time, she says. Im pretty excited.
Shes not alone. Across campus, Americans and Canadians alikenot to mention students from other countriesare eagerly following the U.S. presidential race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
窪蹋勛圖厙political scientist Jennifer Smith says they have good reason to. Its more important than some elections have been in the past, for sure, she says. There are two big reasons why. The candidates are one reasontheres no question that Obamas campaign in particular is an historic one. Secondly, theres truly a big difference between their policy positions.
Although John McCain is likely to carry Texas, Ms. Houk is voting for Barack Obama, whose campaign is inspiring many younger voters.
Its hard not to get excited by him, says Aaron Heiss, a PhD candidate in Biology from Oregon. I do not agree with him on everything, but for once I feel like I am not voting for the lesser of two evils.
Surgery postdoc Jennifer Devitt hails from Colorado, a key battleground state this election. Shes also voting for Obama. Ive come to realize being here in Canada what the worlds perception of America is, what a bad reputation we have, she says. I want that to change, and I think that while McCain could do that, Obama could change it for the better.
Not all younger voters are convinced by Obamas message of change. Mazie Pierce is a costume studies student from Maine. Shes still not certain who shes voting for, but shes leaning towards McCain. Obamas always talking about change, but I just dont see where hes got the proof or what exactly hes going to do, she says.
Others remain genuinely undecided. Neither one of them has won me over yet, says Erica Averill, a health promotion student from Maine whos watching the debates closely to help make up her mind. Im looking for directness. Politicians have a tendency to beat around the bush a bit, but its really important for them to have clear views on the issues that theyre going to be voting on.
While they may differ on their candidate of choice, Dalhousies American students mostly agree that its worth the effort to vote from abroad.
Its really important for citizens in a democracy to vote, says David Blanchard, a biology student from Maine. Participation is so low in elections these days. So many people dont know or dont care. And thats a very bad thing.