Students from JLMC 2010 contributed interviews to this article.

Many different issues, such as reproductive rights, immigration, the economy and others have played a significant role in this year’s presidential election.

According to the Associated Press, the following are the percentages of the top issues that influenced Iowa voters during the election:

• Economy 41%
• Immigration 19%
• Abortion 12%
• Healthcare 10%
• Climate 7%

For students voting at Iowa State, this trend is no different. A common theme that affected students’ votes was the role the candidates played in their lives and how the issues they backed would change Iowa.

Sophia Doherty, a junior in architecture, said she voted for her future.

“Some of the topics the candidates campaign on hit me hard, so I think that’s something that’s important,” Doherty said. “A lot of my people, like friends and family, I know that the issues would affect them a lot too, so just thinking of them.”

Other students said they voted because it was the first time they had been old enough to vote.

Brittan Pudenz, a senior in architecture, said she voted because she “can finally vote.”

“I think it’s important to exercise our democracy,” Pudenz said.

Matthew Funderburk, a senior in supply chain management, said the issue of immigration affected his decision to vote.

“Illegal immigration with the border [is] definitely a big problem,” Funderburk said.

Funderburk also said he was influenced by the ways that taxes, regulations and foreign policy would affect his life long term. 

While some students used these issues as motivation to vote, others used the issues as reasons not to vote.

Mitchell Owen, a senior in electrical engineering, said he decided not to vote Tuesday because he “has a pretty good idea on where it’s going.” Mitchell also said he worries about how the elected administration will affect him as someone living on a farm.