With the recent election being one of the most divisive in political history, the connection between candidates and their policies became uniquely prominent. For many students at St. Olaf, this cycle was not just about choosing leaders, but about safeguarding values that shape their future — especially as young voters. Oles have continuously shown civic engagement to be a priority, with St. Olaf recently winning the 2022 Democracy Cup for voter engagement and historically boasting some of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. In a poll conducted by The Olaf Messenger, Oles were asked to share which issue of these key political issues were powering their ballot this election cycle: economy, reproductive rights, immigration, environment, and preservation of democracy.
Reproductive rights emerged as the top issue, with 32% of respondents identifying it as their primary concern. “Reproductive rights are inherently tied to women’s rights,” said Ryan Brentner ’27. “With the loss of a woman or anyone with a uterus’s right to choose comes the loss of a right fundamental to all women. My future decisions on whether to have kids or not and my feeling of safety to get the healthcare I need in this country are fundamentally dependent on the results of this election.”
Another respondent, Elsa Plocica ’28, expressed how directly the issue affects her life: “At my age, it is directly impacting my access to basic healthcare. I feel closely tied to this issue because it’s something I need to be aware of.”
Democracy itself, however, was also a driving factor for many students, with 22% of respondents prioritizing its preservation in their voting decisions. “Our democratic system is the most important thing at stake in this election,” said Max Sponseller ’27. “All other issues can be figured out as long as the structure of our system remains.”
Others voiced concerns about the actions of former president Donald Trump, particularly regarding the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and his actions during his presidency. “I think that Donald Trump is a wannabe dictator who has threatened journalists, protesters, universities, and minority groups with retribution if they speak out against him,” shared Eli Schaufenbuel ’27. “I think he represents a fundamental threat to our country. I can’t vote for someone who praises Hitler behind closed doors. I’m voting for Harris to save democracy.”
Following democracy, 11% selected the economy and 9% selected the environment as primary concerns in this year’s election. Other issues written in included housing, foreign policy, the war in Gaza, education, and transportation.
