Angela D'Amour
Dean of Student Engagement
Getting Ready for the Upcoming Election Season
The November 5, 2024, presidential election will be the first presidential election in which most of our students will be eligible to vote. I remember voting in my first presidential election as a senior in college. It was exciting but also a bit daunting. I had many questions including “Do I know enough to vote responsibly?” How can I educate myself on the key issues?” and “Does my vote really matter?”
Our students are beginning to ask themselves some of these questions as news swirls about Republican primaries around the nation. We know a few things about voting in America. We know that college educated adults vote at higher rates than those without college degrees. We also know that most Americans are not consistent voters and that political preferences differ a lot by race and ethnicity. Political parties have changed and we see more polarization and divisive rhetoric. We also have seen significant changes over the past 50-70 years as our nation has moved from a largely collectivist culture to an individualistic culture. We tend to vote based on what’s best for me, rather than what’s in the best interests of my community, my nation, or the world. And we as Christians sometimes forget that “our identity in Christ is far more important than any political party”1
Getting ready for the upcoming election season has two important facets. First, preparing to vote warrants some research. What do the candidates deem important and what is their track record for making effective change? We talk with our students about considering their news sources wisely and seeking understanding from diverse news platforms. We know that in order to avoid confirmation bias and the echo chamber that social media and one’s own community tends to create we need to seek out thoughtful politically diverse viewpoints. One way my sister-in-law did this was to swap news sources for two weeks with her brother who sits on the other end of the political spectrum. It not only challenged their ideas but it gave them a great opportunity to talk and connect about what they learned. We also encourage students to check media bias charts such as this one to be aware of the perspectives of their news sources. There may be credible news from many sources but bias is unavoidable and being aware of the bias can help us consider news more wisely.
Second, preparing for the upcoming election season calls for prayer and an alignment of our hearts with God’s heart. Our identity is first and foremost as citizens in God’s Kingdom which means that regardless of the outcome of our nation’s presidential elections, God is in control. We get to join our Heavenly Father in praying for His will to be done in our nation; not our own. We get the opportunity to align our hope not with ideological issues but rather with the hope of what Jesus is doing in and through the hearts of His people. We can be assured that Jesus is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life; not any political leader. We get to remind one another that God’s greatest commandments are to love Him and to love one another and often that involves loving across political differences. We pray that these commandments will guide our vote and not simply our political persuasions. One of my favorite training exercises with students on this topic involves students listening carefully to one another’s views on controversial topics, repeating back what they heard, and asking clarifying questions to better understand where their peers are coming from. I’ve been wisely taught that part of wisdom is being able to say, “I don’t agree with you, but I can understand and articulate why you believe what you do.”
It's a true privilege to walk alongside our Westmont students as they prepare for some of life’s big firsts, be that roommate conflicts, first jobs, or first presidential elections.