Duke University and the Sanford School of Public Policy are abuzz with talks concerning today’s NC primary election and the importance of voting.
Check out these articles to hear what students and faculty have to say:
Professor Asher Hildebrand and Professor Deondra Rose were interviewed about the political implications of the Supreme Court leaks in the Progressive Pulse and Duke Today.
Director of Polis, Professor Rose argues that “This could be the issue that could mobilize young voters, certainly in the primaries and potentially in the general election in November.”
In the Herald Sun, Professor Rose said, “I’m curious how far out from Election Day people are undecided.” Professor Hildebrand also argued that knocking on someone’s door and “peer-to-peer” texting are effective means to reach voters and encourage support for candidates.
Professor Asher Hildebrand, a member of the Polis Steering Committee, was also on The News & Observer’s Under the Dome podcast about the Democratic primary for US House District 4.
In McClatchy DC, Professor Hildebrand argued that abortion will “become a defining issue, perhaps the defining issue in the fall.” He states that “A lot of states have already passed legislation to criminalize abortion if Roe vs. Wade is repealed, and all of a sudden we’re really hanging in the balance as one of the few states left in the region where we haven’t ruled one way or the other, and so — I don’t know if voters will make that distinction, but you can bet that a lot of national organizations looking for places to invest are going to make that distinction.”
Polis Steering Committee member Professor Mac McCorkle was quoted in CBS17 about Republicans and Democrats donating to each other’s campaigns. He asserts this is less common in these polarized times. In reference to GOP Congressional candidate Kelly Daughtry’s supposed political donations to a democratic candidate, he states, “In past days, especially in the case of judges and judicial politics, which is the head has been cordoned off from the regular polarized politics, I think you would have seen more of this.”
Lastly senior Daisy Lane who has worked with Duke Votes was interviewed in Duke Today. She argues that students are not politically apathetic. “The thinking is, they’re only on campus for four years, their home is elsewhere and there’s a lot of student apathy. But I’ve spent much of my four years here talking to students about politics and voting, and what has always been clear is that students care a lot and they want to vote.” Obstacles that create lower turnout among students include the confusing and intimidating nature of the voting process. Duke Votes is a student-led organization that aims to break these obstacles down and mobilize the Duke community to vote.
Click here to learn how to vote in today’s primary election!