Speech Forum: Does our vote matter?

A speaker said that a person’s vote doesn’t matter because of polarized party politics and the Electoral College during the speech forum held in Peltier Auditorium Tuesday night.

Shane Swan was the pro side of two speakers who debated the resolution that our vote in the 2016 presidential election does not matter.

“Your vote is your voice and your life and it matters because you do,” said Micah Hebert, a senior government major from Cut Off and the con speaker during the forum.

Hebert said that voting matters because it is how Americans voice their opinions. He named events throughout history such as slavery and women’s suffrage that have shaped America and came about through voting.

“By you voting, you give voice to those who are powerless,” said Hebert.

“Our choice should reflect what we believe in,” said Swan.

He spoke about the lack of choices given to the American people as a result of media highlighting the agendas of particular parties rather than giving all candidates equal coverage.

Once the forum opened to have speakers from the audience propose questions and statements, there were many more perspectives brought before everyone in attendance.

Many students addressed both sides, but to students who addressed their questions and comments to Hebert, he said that most of their concerns are a matter of voting the right people in and out of office.

In a study conducted at Harvard University, 3 million students who were polled said they do not believe their elected officials share their priorities.

This upcoming presidential election has Americans actually considering exit strategies. NASA reported that it has seen a spike in people applying for their astronaut program, and when they researched why this was, applicants said they were looking for a way out because of the election next week.