Election day brings citizens from all across the area to the polls

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Across the nation, Americans are headed to the polls – and today’s election will have a major effect on how the nation is run for the next two years.

Issues such as rising prices and the war in Iran have influenced many to cast their votes this year. Today’s elections will determine the house of representatives, and one-third of the U.S. senate. Currently the republican party has control of both houses. MUW political science professor Brian Anderson said that midterms over the years have been seen as a study of why some don’t vote, but in recent years voting numbers have ticked up.

“These are the politics we have,” said Anderson. “We’re always looking to make the best of what we have. I notice it’s not the ringing the endorsement of the system, but paying attention and making an informed vote is the first step in improvement.”

One of the groups many people are watching now is Gen Z to see how they’ll respond.  MUW student Zander Hall said that he’s voting to do his part to try and get those he agrees with in the rooms that he can’t get in, in the hopes that they will make the right decisions. Hall believes that people his age who don’t vote are afraid of getting blamed for things not going as planned but says that it’s a risk and decision you must make.

“Especially us college students, we are the next working generation,” said Hall. “And so, we need to vote on our future, and especially for our kids to come and the generations to come. We are the next workforce. And so, getting our voice out there is really important.”

Polls in Mississippi will close tonight at 7 p.m.