Tag Archives: elections

Make Your Own Mamdani

Leave a reply

By Alona Sanchez

When my sociology teacher included an article about Zohran Mamdani in a news rundown at the start of class, it raised questions. Why should I, a woman from a small town in Ohio, care about the politics of New York City? 

When it comes to Mamdani, there’s plenty to talk about. 

Mamdani’s campaign promises, among them a free bus system, free childcare and rent freezes, have put him at the forefront of many Americans’ minds. Gen Z voters have been especially taken with the young mayor. He is known for his active social media presence, which he regularly uses to interface with young people in New York City and beyond. 

It is a known fact that voter turnout for local elections is lower than voter turnout for federal elections in the United States. According to a study by the University of Chicago, voter turnout across all ages in local elections averages around 20 percent. In contrast, the estimated youth turnout for the New York City mayoral race was as high as 28 percent. 

Those who say that Mamdani is one-of-a-kind or that he can only exist in New York City are ignoring the role of higher voter turnout in Mamdani’s win. When elections aren’t well attended, voters let people who do not share their priorities make decisions for them. The more voters turn out in a local election, the more power they have to elect exciting candidates who share their values and concerns. 

The New York City mayoral election showed that engaging youth voters in local elections is possible, but young people elsewhere in the country can’t just wait around longing for a mayor like Mamdani to appear. Gen Zers should be turning their attention not to Mamdani, but to their own local government. If they want change, they need to head to the polls and vote.

Mamdani may not be your mayor, but that doesn’t mean he should be forgotten or ignored. Vote for the people you want to see in office. Make a Mamdani of your own. 

Question: Is Single-Issue Voting the Right Way to Go?

Leave a reply

By Therese Agbetiafa and Jorge Rodriguez

Certain identities come with certain social advantages. Not just small everyday privileges, but deeper ones that determine the risks people face when political decisions are made. The impact of a decision like the reversal of Roe v. Wade or the launch of a mass deportation campaign can depend on a person’s demographic. 

Single-issue voting is when a voter casts a ballot for a politician based on their feelings on one particular political issue or idea. For some, a single issue does not define their way of voting, while others reject partisan loyalty. 

In interviews with nearly a dozen people in Princeton, New Jersey, it became clear that a voter’s identity heavily influences their voting behavior, and their incentive to be a single-issue voter. 

“My background belies what people would think my voting ways are,” said Jordan Denning, a white man. “There are many elections where I do not like anybody running. So I don’t touch it… [I] just do my own thing.” Denning’s voting decisions reflect how he doesn’t always feel personally engaged in politics. 

Carolyn Galayda and Becca Goldman feel that as members of the LGBTQ community, their rights are particularly vulnerable. The couple votes with one goal in mind: Whichever candidate represents the underrepresented wins their vote.  

“We do look a lot at the opinions of the League of Women’s Voters… We’re gay, so we also have a lot of concern about that issue,” Goldman said. She and Galaya favor candidates who consider the rights of vulnerable voters in most, if not all, contexts. 

“So often I feel like I’m voting to not have the bad choice… I don’t want to lose my vote,” Goldman said. 

The sense of obligation to vote for the “lesser evil” was widespread amongst interviewees. 

Zain Shahabuddih, 26, brought a new perspective to the conversation, one of a young person who feels their impact is limited. Like Denning, Shahabuddih is not always motivated to vote. Not necessarily because he isn’t a vulnerable voter, but because he’s demotivated by the candidates. 

“If I were to vote, I would like to vote for one who was the lesser evil,” he said. “I [have] kind of been disenchanted with a lot of options.” 

Shahabuddih is not a single-issue voter by definition; in fact, he’s barely a voter at all. “I vote when it makes an impact,” he says. But he acknowledged that his background influences his values and how he votes. Shahabuddih may not vote in every election, but when he chooses to vote, he votes for candidates he believes can uplift his community. 

Ultimately, the question isn’t whether or not single-issue voting is the right way to go, but whether U.S. voters can unite across identity lines.

One Person, One Vote

Leave a reply

By Aryana Berhand and Joslyn King

How much of one’s personal values can be sacrificed for the sake of their country? In today’s political climate, many voters find themselves having to choose between the lesser of two evils. 

According to U.S. News & World Report, New Jersey is one of the most politically engaged states in the country. This is doubly true of Princeton, New Jersey, where residents spoke candidly about the influence of their values on their voting habits.

Several Princetonians rejected the philosophy of single-issue voting, keeping in mind the myriad of issues that affect not only our country, but the rest of the world, too.

“If the candidate’s gonna be in office, then their decisions will affect everything,” said Emma Cichone. “So you have to look at everything.”

This belief is held even among those who are not yet eligible to vote. “I’d have to look at the person’s values, not necessarily just their opinion on that one issue,” said Maddie Fowler, a local high school student. 

However, there is some recognition that single-issue voting is a prevalent practice in current times. Andrew Guo, who does not single-issue vote, believes that it is important to understand others’ views, especially in politics. He approached the conversation with empathy, understanding that voting can be difficult. 

“I think ideally you would judge a candidate’s worth based off of what he believes on all sorts of issues, not just one issue,” he said. Still, Guo could see why some people might gravitate towards single-issue voting. 

During the 2024 presidential election, the conflict between Palestine and Israel divided voters, though both candidates held pro-Israel ideals. Some people felt so strongly about this issue that they chose not to vote at all. 

For many Princetonians, voting is an important part of the civic responsibility they feel at the local and national level. While some people look at candidates holistically, others vote on the specific issues that are important to them. 

Whatever the case may be, one vote comes down to one person’s values. Sometimes, it comes down to one of those values alone.

One Vote is Rarely About One Thing

Leave a reply

By Aeryn Bautista and Yeisbel Peña

Sixty-six percent of Americans say they’re worried about global warming, according to Yale’s Program on Climate Change Communication. Forty-two percent believe that we’re heading toward a total economic collapse, a YouGov survey found.

For single-issue voters, just one of these concerns can determine their vote. 

Single-issue voting, or the practice of voting for a candidate based on their position on a single issue, has always been a part of American politics. According to some Princeton area residents, that approach is not the path to progress.

“I think you’re selling yourself short if you would vote on a single issue, right?” said Steven A., 31. In his opinion, single-issue voters are “basic.” 

Interviewees from Kingston, NJ, who voted in 2012 were happy to vote for Obama purely based on his handling of unemployment in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Nothing else felt nearly as pressing for them. Today, the same voters describe a more complicated, yet necessary, calculation involving abortion, war, immigration and all else that President Trump’s administration brought to the forefront of American politics. 

Robert Schmidt, 19, voted for Harris in 2024. “I just didn’t like Trump and any of his ideas,” he said. “I didn’t agree with a lot of what Kamala Harris was saying, but I just didn’t agree with Trump as a whole.”

Decades ago, voters relied on print media, speeches and debates for candidate information. Now, they can track aspiring officials’ every word on every policy through short-form content on Instagram, X and TikTok. 

Young people, in particular, find themselves worrying about all aspects of a candidate’s platform that social media draws into the limelight. Many identify themselves completely with positions raised by the left side of the aisle, highlighting how daily political content encourages polarization. 

Reese Eigenbauer, 14, expressed this sentiment in simple terms. “I just don’t really like Trump and what he stands for, and what he was planning on doing when he got into office,” she said.

Residents unfamiliar with the term “single-issue voting” rejected the label immediately once it was explained. 

“Absolutely not,” said Claudine Collins. Her support for Harris, she added, rested on “every reason under the sun.” 

If there was ever a time when a single issue decided an election, the people of Princeton suggest that it is long gone. 

“Life’s a lot more complicated than that,” said Steven A. “Society’s a lot more complicated than that. So why make your vote cast on a single issue?”