Nov. 8, 2018

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SU Drama’s production of “Next Fall� opens this week. The play stars six SU students and explores contemporary issues of familial drama, loss and love. Page 7

SU’s Division of Marketing and Communications has established a 16-member student advisory committee to better reach SU’s campus population. Page 3

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Voter turnout climbs Experts say polarized electorate inspired higher voting rates in 2018 midterms

Democrat Dana Balter took most of the vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections in the city of Syracuse, but ultimately lost to incumbent Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) in the 24th Congressional District race. Here’s a map showing how residents turned out at the polls this year in Syracuse, as compared to the last midterm elections in 2014.

Student leaders react to elections By Catherine Leffert asst. news editor

KEY Differences in voter turnout between the 2014 and 2018 congressional elections >-500 (-500)-0 0-500 500-1000 1000-1500 1500<

Ward 10 - 603

Ward 8 +37

Syracuse University

Ward 17 +2376 Ward 19 - 2464

People who voted Republican in 2014 (33%) People who voted Democrat in 2018 ( 73%)

People who voted Republican in 2018 (27%)

election day 2018

32,969 Number of people who voted in Syracuse during Tuesday’s congressional elections

People who voted Democrat in 2014 (67%) source: onondaga county board of elections

M

ore than 166,000 people voted in the 2018 midAbout 50 percent of the state’s eligible voters cast term elections in Onondaga County, a turnout Story by Casey Darnell ballots in the 2018 election, according to state data. In asst. news editor higher than both the 2010 and 2014 midterms. 2014, only 31.5 percent of eligible voters participated, In 2014, 137,531 Onondaga County resiThe Journal News reported. dents voted in the midterm elections, and in 2010, the Map by Ali Harford Jacob Neiheisel, an associate professor of political managing editor number was slightly higher at 145,746 votes, according science at the University at Buffalo, said during the 20th to data from the Onondaga County Board of Elections. century and modern era, there has been a “seesaw� Experts attributed the jump in turnout to a more polarized elec- between high voter turnout in presidential elections and low turntorate and a strong political momentum of people either supporting out in midterm elections. or opposing the current presidential administration. The turnout was relatively high in Onondaga County for the 2018 Dustin Czarny, Democratic election commissioner for Onondaga midterm elections, but it was still lower than in presidential election County, said the high turnout is due to the “hyperpartisan mood of years. In 2016, 212,839 people voted in Onondaga County, and in the country,� in which voters either completely stand behind Presi- 2012, the turnout was 206,416. dent Donald Trump or are against him. Grant Reeher, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Insti“The country is still divided, and races are becoming more and tute at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, more competitive,� he said. “When that happens, we’re going to see said the midterm elections became a focus almost immediately higher turnout.� after Trump’s election in 2016. Czarny said Onondaga County is most likely going to see a 60 Much of that political momentum has been part of the movement to 65 percent turnout of eligible voters once affidavits and absen- resisting Trump and his administration, Reeher said. tee ballots are counted. The turnout was 50 percent in 2014. “All of that media attention and the on-the-ground grassRecord-high turnout was seen across New York state, as well. roots activism has generated a much-heightened level of political see voting page 4

Both presidents of Syracuse University’s College Republicans and College Democrats said they were happy with the results of the midterm elections and proud of younger generations for voting. A day after the Democrats took control of the United States House of Representatives, College Democrats President Andres Victoria said he was glad that the House went blue. College Republicans President Domenic Biamonte said he was excited the GOP maintained the Senate, and Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) kept Syracuse in New York’s 24th Congressional District. College Republicans, which has 20 to 50 active members, and College Democrats, which has about 35 active members, both were politically involved in the recent midterm elections.

As much as I would’ve liked to keep the House, I like to see my generation vote. Domenic Diamonte su college republicans president

“As much as I would’ve liked to keep the House, I like to see my generation vote,� Biamonte said. “I like to see my generation active in the political system because eventually we’ll be the ones holding the reigns.� Biamonte said that he was most excited about the number of young people that voted in the midterm elections. He added that while he was disappointed about the House flip, it was expected, though he thinks it was not the “blue wave� that Democrats were predicting. The College Republicans president said that the group had been preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Victoria said he thinks activism on social media, such as Twitter and Instagram, drove a lot of millennials to the polls. Those votes make a difference and young people’s voices matter, Victoria said. Both Biamonte and Victoria said they think President Donald Trump inspired people to vote, specifically with the “antiTrump� vote. “I think this generation is going see elections page 4

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