Every vote has a voice, make yours heard

Early voting begins Feb. 20; Election Day set for March 6

As voting season approaches, some Del Mar College students can’t wait for their voice to be heard in this year’s midterm elections. With incumbent Blake Farenthold recently announcing he will not seek re-election, the future of his U.S. House seat is unclear.

“The last time I voted, the party I voted for didn’t win,” said education major Britany Ramirez. “But I am coming back with a hopeful mindset and optimistic approach.”

Ramirez will head to the polls for the fourth time in her life on Feb. 20, the first day of early voting, and encourages others to vote too.

Volunteers from the League of Women Voters, including Ruth Falck, have also been encouraging students to vote. Falck recently set up a table near the stairs in the Harvin Center to speak with passing students about registering to vote.

“Every vote matters and right now, the issues out there are so important to South Texas that we must get out the vote,” Falck said.

Falck often spends her mornings helping students register to vote or giving information on upcoming elections.

“Education issues, health care issues and immigration issues — I think those are the three big ones right now. If a politician doesn’t believe in everyone having health care, that might be a problem for us,” Falck said.

Yvette Reyes, a social work major and president of the Social Work Student Association, plans to vote for the first time when elections open.

“It’s just important. Every decision you make affects your family and community so our voice matters,” Reyes said. “I’m excited because I finally know what it means to vote. I didn’t know until the last election, so now every chance I get I want my voice to be heard.”

Besides Farenthold’s House seat, other key races include one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats, governor, attorney general and several other state and local races. Early voting begins runs Feb. 20 through March 2, with Election Day set for March 6. Voters can find a guide provided by the League of Women Voters at www.vote411.org.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 6 in the Heldenfels Administration Building on East Campus.

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