Reactions at the polls: What are people saying?

Mark Rosander, Muncie local

“It’s your civic duty to vote. Too many people died so that we could have this right to be able to exercise our rights. I voted straight Republican.”

Aubrey Rosander, Muncie local

“I think that it’s the duty of Americans to speak their voice. [I vote] every time, even in between times. I actually was more excited this time than any other time I have voted just because I think our country is at a crossroads. We're either going to do right or do wrong and now's the time. There's no going back. I voted for Trump.”

Garrett Evers, junior applied mathematics major

“I care about my community, I care about my country I guess. If I don't vote, I won't be able to say anything for the next four years [if] I didn't participate, so it matters that I participate. I've been in Muncie for awhile. I voted the straight Democratic ticket ... You don't really feel the magnitude while in [the polling place], it's supposed to be a closed off environment.”

Jack Justice, Muncie local

“[This election is] extremely important. There's no big difference [from previous elections], it's just that it's election day and I think everybody should get out and vote and do their thing. If it comes down to one vote, I guess I get the win.”

Susan Reno, BSU alumna who voted for Hillary Clinton

“Voting has always been one of the most important things about being American. I've never missed an election. [This election is] absolutely different; it's just that it's gotten into the gutter [with] the language and I find it very offensive. Truth telling was at a limit. I'm a longtime worker for women's rights and this is the biggest day of my life. I voted for her, and then I went back and looked again and made sure that the x was in there. My sister and I are gonna celebrate today and it's a really, really big day and I think they haven't made a big deal out of it but for me, I've been waiting for this since I was born. I've read so many books about women and our struggle to just be equal, and we still aren't, but this is a big, big step and I just hope she does a good job so that worldwide we'll have a good reputation. So that's me, I'm just happy.”

Brittany Holloway, freshman creative writing who voted in her first election

“It's stressful, I hope I did my registration right. It's my right [to vote] and I have the time, I might as well exercise that right. No, [it wasn't really hard for me to decide who to vote for]. [I voted for] Clinton because I'm pretty much going on who I trust more with the nuke codes at this point. I'm glad to be getting [my vote] done.”

Katie Reising, campaigning for Jessica Piper for county council at-large

“This is insane. This is the most crowded I've ever seen it. I have never seen a line here. I voted here earlier and I was out for like an hour and thirty minutes.”

Bryan Smith

“I voted for Trump. This election is very important for people to get out and vote. I kinda feel like the younger generation don't care anymore. I wish that they would get out and make decisions for this election because it's a big one. We had someone with no political experience with good core values and someone who has had 30 years in office so it's really an 'either or' thing. With these candidates it's important to make that decision.”

Briajah Moore, freshman social work major

“I felt nervous. I was nervous because it’s my first time voting and like we’re voting for the president of the united states. It was easy for me to vote because I already registered in high school and then when I got here they had people come help me in my residence hall because I’m not from here.”

Taylor Swope, sophomore English education major

“I feel like it was kind of my duty so I felt super excited to do it. Just because of my beliefs and everything I’m supporting Donald Trump, and it’s basically just a beliefs thing that I think he’s going to be able to help the country the most. Economically I think he’s going to help us the most. Honestly I don’t know much about the local candidates, I’m not from the Muncie area so I didn’t pay as much attention to that. All I knew was from commercials and stuff like that. I feel like I should’ve learned more but it just didn’t happen with school and everything. I don’t think that either of them really represented someone fully, so I didn’t feel completely represented, but I definitely think that who I voted for definitely represented me more than the other candidate. A lot of campaigns from both sides focuse more on emotional aspects of the candidates instead of focusing on the issues that needed to be talked about, so I just felt it was more emotional attacks, and I just think it didn’t get as much to the issues as it needed to.”

Melanie Yoder, sophomore NREM major

“I wish it wasn’t this election that was my first time because it wasn’t ideal, but it’s just important to vote. I voted Hillary Clinton because I don’t want Trump to win, and I support a lot of her ideas as well and I see some other third party candidates and some of those ideas I supported as well, but Hillary Clinton had some good policies that I particularly liked.”