The 2024 presidential race has been tight with the Nov. 5 election poised to go to either Republican candidate Donald Trump or Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The COM209 journalism class at Lasell University polled prospective voters across the country from Oct. 23-27. An online poll was created and sent to family, friends, and members of the Lasell community via email and social media.
The poll was made so that respondents answered anonymously. It asked people to give their state of residence, age, registered party, if they voted in a presidential election previously, which candidate they plan to vote for, and, if they felt comfortable, to share why they are voting for their candidate. There were a total of 165 respondents from 21 states across the country. The majority of responses came from the New England states (112 total responses), with Oregon surprisingly next with 11 responses.
Overall, Harris led the poll with 101 votes, with Trump getting 50 and the remainder going to third-party candidates, abstentions, or those who say they are still undecided.
Most of the participants (104) were between the ages of 18-22, with 63 of them saying they will be voting for Harris.
A 21-year-old female from Maine said, “When it comes to voting for a president I care about who will protect the things that I care about. For me that is my reproductive rights, climate change, gender equality, gun safety measures.”
On the Trump side, a 19-year female from Massachusetts said, “I agree with his political agenda and believe the other choices will hurt our economic standpoint.”
Among those aged 52 and older, support for the main candidates was more evenly split, with 11 votes for Harris and 10 for Trump. A 74-year-old male from Arizona explained his choice: “Kamala Harris has spent the last 3+ years doing nothing. Why vote for someone making promises who could have spent the last few years making them happen?”
Respondents were given the ability to elaborate on their reasons for selecting a specific candidate. For instance, a 20-year-old female from Rhode Island exemplified views of many of the Harris supporters, stating, “Trump is a felon and sexual predator. He does not care about
people of color, homelessness, trafficking, the environment, the LGBTQ community, women, or women's rights to their bodily autonomy. He only cares about the subordination of those who do not bow down to him and support him.”
Nine individuals stated they would not participate in this year's election. One participant, a 46-year-old male from Oregon, remarked, “[I am] not voting. I do not feel that any of the candidates are capable of doing the job.”
When it came to the political parties represented, 57 people said they are registered Democrats and 30 are registered Republicans. Of these, one registered Democrat and one registered Republican said they would be voting for the other party.
One key takeaway from the poll responses was that many individuals feel they are settling
for a candidate. A significant number of participants said they believe that none of the presidential options fully meet their expectations.
A 54-year-old male from Colorado called Harris the “least offensive candidate” and four respondents used the phrase “lesser of two evils” in their comments.
Notably, there was a clear trend among participants favoring Harris for her stances on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and climate change. One respondent, a 21-year-old female from Oregon, shared, “I believe my human rights as a woman are far more protected under the Harris administration.”
Conversely, Trump supporters frequently referenced economic policies, with one individual from Kansas stating, “As a small business owner...Trump will implement the right policies that help small businesses succeed.”
Beyond the candidate preference, the data also reflects how people perceive the stakes
of this election. Some extreme opinions emphasized disdain or distrust for the opposing candidate, often expressed in stark terms. A 50-year-old male from Pennsylvania who plans to vote for Harris remarked, “Trump is not fit for the office … he poses an extraordinary threat.” On the other end, a 20-year-old female from Pennsylvania voting for Trump exclaimed, “MERICA RAHHHHH,” exemplifying the unfiltered enthusiasm that emerged in many pro-Trump comments.
Regardless of which candidate they end up voting for, 84 of the respondents said this will be their first time voting for president. Their votes, along with the high stakes and higher tension, is certain to make this election one for the history books.
(Story was written and reported by Mikala Marshall, Meghan Clair, Abigail Fortin, Zane Jacobs, Liliana Luksch, Colleen Newcomb, Ceci Teixeira, Jeremy Wacker and Evan Terry)
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