Cost of Living and Education at the Top of EU Students’ Midterms Concerns

As Elmhurst University students prepare to vote in next week’s congressional midterms, they cited voter turnout, the rising cost of living, education, and immigration as their top concerns, according to a Leader survey of 113 students.

The survey also found that nearly half of students were either unsure whether they would vote or did not plan to. Students described this midterm as more influential than previous ones.

“In many ways it’s a referendum on all of the issues that we find ourselves faced with, whether that’s inflation, whether that’s education, whether that’s immigration,” said Student Government Association Sen. William Anderson. “I think for better or for worse it really is just a referendum on fascism.”

Voter Turnout and Barriers

More than 40% of students said they have voted in previous elections, but just 13% said they are very familiar with what to expect on their ballots. About half of students said they are somewhat familiar with the candidates running.

“This is the kind of problem of just being a busy college student,” Anderson said. “You’re pulled in all these different directions.”

Nearly 70% of the EU students surveyed are registered to vote in Illinois.

Some students are concerned about barriers to voting. Junior Ian Culp said it’s been difficult for him to secure a mail-in ballot during EU’s own academic midterms.

“I live officially in North Carolina, so voting is exponentially inconvenient right now,” Culp said.

Out of 1,458 new students starting this fall, 41% are from out of state, led by students from Texas and California, according to EU.

College students can generally register to vote at either their home address or their campus residence, according to ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

Sophomore Savannah Rodriguez said some students don’t end up voting because of personal barriers.

“I think it’s because either they’re busy or they just can’t go. Some of them don’t have other resources like others do. Like I have a car, I can easily go,” Rodriguez said.

Economic Concerns and Education

For junior Samuel Costello, inflation and cost of living are major factors when deciding how to vote. About 77% of students surveyed agree with Costello, and 45% of students cited housing affordability as a top concern.

Inflation has slowed since the previous midterm election in 2022, but prices are still higher than they were six years ago. Voters may continue to hold Republicans accountable for the rising cost of living, according to The Wall Street Journal.

More than half of students said job and employment is most important to them when deciding how to vote, and 66% cited education and student debt.

“Some academics are calling it a brain drain,” Anderson said about recent funding cuts to universities from the federal administration. “Pretty prominent, well-known researchers in various fields are leaving, going to Canada or Europe, and now I mean people pursuing doctoral studies or training or even getting their master’s is a lot more difficult and competitive because of the lack of funding.”

Junior Julia Alvarado said abortion and reproductive rights are among her top concerns when dividing how to vote. Nearly 60% of students surveyed agreed this was a top issue for them.

“I’m deeply pro-choice. Women’s healthcare is very important to me,” Alvarado said.

About 65% of EU students said healthcare is a top concern. Nationally, about a third of Americans said they worry every day or almost every day about the cost of healthcare, according to an October Pew Research Center survey.

Immigration, Rights, and Democracy

Currently, Rodriguez cares most about immigration. Nearly 65% of students said immigration is one of the issues that are most important to them when voting.

“I don’t think we’re taking it that seriously, and I think we’re not that pressed about it,” Rodriguez said. “I think we should be.”

Anderson also criticized the federal administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and said he was concerned about their effects on Black and Brown communities.

Sophomore Kelsey Bennett said democracy and government accountability are most important to her when deciding how to vote.

“I think as a country, our politicians have forgotten about our goal as a society: human rights and democracy,” said Bennett.

About 48% of students agreed democracy and government accountability is a top issue for the upcoming election.

Rodriguez said she was surprised during the last presidential election when Democratic candidate Kamala Harris wasn’t elected despite an enthusiastic, last-minute push by Democrats. She said she’s worried about a similar false confidence by the party this time around.

“I’m kind of scared, like what’s going to happen?” Rodriguez said.

Freshman Alli Sarwon said: “American society is regressing when it comes to issues regarding civil rights, reproductive rights, economic stability, and many other issues that sought resolution centuries ago. We are not as ahead as we should be/think we are.”

Other Midterms Concerns

Students were asked about other issues as well: Nearly 45% of students care a lot about climate change and the environment. A similar proportion cited public safety and crime. Only 26% of students cited foreign policy as an influential factor in this year’s election.

Anderson encouraged students to vote and said even small differences in elections can have a broader impact.

“You feel voting minutely, but those minute differences can add up to a lot, especially the more local it is,” Anderson said.