Students react to pending election results: “Our future is at stake.”

With results pouring in from Election Day on Nov. 3, Elmhurst University students await final votes alongside the rest of the United States. 

For many students, this was their first general election that could mark a great change. Allison Skiple, a second-year student at EU, said that this election has been important for the younger generations.

“This is truly our future that’s at stake. We are the people who [the election] directly affects,” Skiple shared.

This presidential election, more young voters were eager to cast their ballot as many watched on the sidelines during the 2016 general election.

“Seeing what’s happened in the last four years, [with] our generation becoming more educated, you want to be educated as well,” said Briana Janczy, a senior at EU.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pew Research Center has found that in 29 states and D.C., more people voted by mail in this year’s primaries than in 2018 and 2016. The trend of mail-in voting for the primary election earlier this year has continued into the general election.

Students find the declaration of state victories of each candidate to be unclear considering the states are not at the one hundred percent mark for votes counted. “There is definitely confusion in how they can be so sure in their [victory] statements,” said Janczy.

Luceana Luna, a psychology major who has been keeping up to date with the election results, also noted the complexity of the situation. “For me, it makes no sense,” she said. “A lot of the states that [Biden] is projected to win haven’t even finished counting.” 

“I feel like it’s confusing to everybody, especially us college students,” adds Luna.

The anticipation for the results is high as states continue to count ballots. “It’s frustrating, but I know it’s important to wait because it’s letting everyone else’s voices be heard,” said Skiple about the wait for election results.