<\/a>Nicholas Thornton
\n<\/strong>Staff Writer<\/em><\/p>\n

In the midst of heated debates between Presidential candidates, democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and republican nominee Donald Trump, voter disinterest could have a major impact on the election.\u00a0 Slated for Nov. 8, 2016, voters have 39 days to decide who will lead the United States of America.<\/p>\n

So what factors are determining whom voters will choose?<\/p>\n

In a Pew Research Center poll, 33 percent of Trump supporters and about as many Clinton supporters (32 percent) frame their vote at least partially in opposition to the other candidate. In other words, some voters are really casting their vote against a candidate rather than in favor of the other.<\/p>\n

Students in the Jackson State University Student Government Association (SGA) and the Department of Political Science, offered insight into the current election process and what factors are driving their voting decisions.<\/p>\n

Isaac Gaines, SGAVice President said he defined voting as a way for the people to get their questions answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a student casts their vote, not only is their voice being heard, their voice is creating a path for future generations. When one student votes, they are voting for change,\u201d said Gaines.<\/p>\n

Rachel Payton, a senior marketing major minoring in political science from Hattiesburg, Miss., and member of the SGA, believes that politics starts at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the main things I would say that would get more people involved in voting is gaining an understanding of what they\u2019re voting for. We could do more on our part by getting people educated on the voting process to expand voter participation,\u201d said Payton.<\/p>\n

Although a select group of students have an interest in politics, there some students who show little to no interest in politics.<\/p>\n

Devin Cousin, a junior mass communication major from Florence, Miss., and Aleia Buford, a junior biology\/pre-physical therapy major from Greenwood, Miss., are among the students who are not as aware of the political issues being discussed but do know that they dislike one or both of the front-running candidates.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know a lot about politics, but I do know a little bit.\u00a0 This year\u2019s elections is between evil and evil,\u201d said Cousin.<\/p>\n

Buford stated he had major disdain for one of the candidates and did not want that person to have control.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not really into politics because it is not interesting, but I do know that Donald Trump is a turn off,\u201d Buford said. \u201cOpinions matter! You\u2019re giving a person power over things that may affect you and others within that environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaqua Holmes, a senior computer technology major from Jackson, Miss., said the reason for voting is to elect someone to lead the people in the right direction, but he also holds a belief that no matter who wins the election, the turnout will not affect his daily routine.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I have never voted, I am not a fan of politics; however, I am not with Trump on his stance towards students,\u201d said Holmes.<\/p>\n

Rachel Payton believes all students eligible to vote, should do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cStaying at home is the worst possible thing one can do during election season.\u00a0 Your vote is important because politics affect scholarship\/financial aid,\u201d said Payton.<\/p>\n

If you are not registered to vote, the deadline in Mississippi is Oct. 8. For more information on voter registration, visit www.sos.ms.gov.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nicholas Thornton Staff Writer In the midst of heated debates between Presidential candidates, democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and republican nominee Donald Trump, voter disinterest could…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_plus_post_options":"{}","editor_plus_copied_stylings":"{}","_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7693"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7693\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}