Gettysburg College Participates in the 2024 Election
Campaign signs placed outside the CUB Ballroom, where students and community members voted on Tuesday, Nov. 5. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
By Brandon Fey, News Editor
The Gettysburg College community engaged in the historic 2024 Presidential Election through themed events and discourse leading up to Tuesday, when students and faculty finally cast their votes at the polling station created in the CUB Ballroom on campus.
There had been significant efforts by student organizations to get their classmates to register to vote in the weeks prior to the election. The Political Science Honor Society held a “Get Out the Vote” block party on Monday as a celebration of voting and a final reminder for eligible students to do so. The campus has also become the scene of increased political expression, as has been observed through the posting of partisan signage and slogans chalked on pathways around College buildings. The campus polling station was open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. and was highly trafficked by students, faculty and local community members.
The Gettysburg College Republicans and Democrats both held tables outside of the voting line, where they offered literature about voting and candidates up for election.
Ella Hansen ’28, who was representing College Republicans, commented about voting and the turnout she had observed on campus within the first three hours.
“I think it’s important to give everyone the opportunity to voice their opinions no matter who they vote for. Everyone should do it, and I’m just happy to be here,” she said. “We’ve had great voter turnout, and I was honestly surprised that people cared as much, but like I said, I think it’s a very good thing.”
Members of College Republicans tabled outside the CUB Ballroom on Election Day. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
President of Gettysburg College Democrats Alisha LeVine ’25 spoke on behalf of her organization about the political engagement of the student body on campus in the days leading up to the election.
“We have been talking to a lot of people that are really grateful that these political clubs have been so active on campus, registering voters, educating people on knowing their rights when voting, and we’re really excited that there’s a voting location right here on campus where students can easily go in and make their voices heard because there’s so much at stake this cycle,” she said.
Members of College Democrats tabling in CUB on election day. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
Another student named said that her vote was principally influenced by the issue of abortion.
“In 2016 I didn’t get to vote, but the idea that Trump was our president wasn’t really a concern of mine, because I didn’t think that he would take away rights. I didn’t think a president would do that. So and then Roe v. Wade got overturned and Trump takes credit for it. So I’m very glad that I get to exercise my right to vote in this election and stand up for my rights,” she said.
The high voter turnout on campus contributed to long lines and extended wait times. Several students even reported having waited in line for over two hours to vote.
Students and community members waiting in line to vote. At some tines, students reported waiting more than two hours to vote. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
Delaney Stahl ’27 was one of the students in line who encouraged others to vote, saying, “you should vote. This is a really, really important election.”
Another member of the class of 2027 in the voting line, who described himself as an independent who has become more right-leaning, cited political rhetoric he has observed such as a poster he said unfairly represented Republican beliefs regarding the war in Ukraine.
“I noticed a sign on the wall this morning that was basically a depiction of dead bodies in Ukraine, and it said that Republicans want what’s happening in Ukraine to happen. That was it. There was no student body behind the poster. It was just up on the wall, and I think that’s a perfect example of a certain group of people that like to just make claims that have no validity to them, and then the other people just kind of sit in silence and use their vote,” he said.
Several Gettysburg College students from out of state have chosen to register in Gettysburg due to the significance of Pennsylvania as a swing state.
“It’s really clear that Pennsylvania is going to be critical, and I feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to vote here in such a critical election,” said Claira Royce ’24, who is from New York. “There is a lot on the line, and I think that there’s gonna be some pretty serious consequences for some people’s safety if one person wins.”
California-native Jamie Riches ’26 did likewise.
“I switched my voter registration to Pennsylvania when I came to college, and I really appreciate the experience of being a voter in such an important state. I would vote regardless of where I was, but it’s nice to feel like my vote really matters,” he said. “Being on this campus where everyone is so politically engaged is really encouraging for our generation’s involvement in government, politics.”
After the polls closed, Conversations for Change, in conjunction with the Eisenhower Institute, The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Public Policy Student Council, College Democrats and College Republicans, hosted a nonpartisan watch party of the live ABC News coverage of the election results. The event began at 8 p.m. in the CUB Junction and offered free food and drinks to students from across the political spectrum.
Students watching the election results come in via ABC News in CUB Junction. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
“It’s mostly just exciting to see what’s happening,” said one sophomore student. “And I’m really anxious, too, just seeing what everyone’s thinking, what everyone’s feeling like, and then seeing the different votes come in, that’s really interesting stuff. I’m just glad to see a lot more turnout this year than in past elections, and I think that’s great regardless of who you’re voting for.”
This sense of eager uncertainty was expressed by several students, including one who is also from the class of 2027.
“I am just excited to see the turnout of the election,” she said.
By 8:45 p.m., one side had begun to take an early lead. Co-President of College Republicans Carl DeMarco Jr. ’25 commented on this noticeable development.
“My thoughts are that the night is still young, and that while the early returns look like they are favoring Republicans in the House, the Senate and the presidential elections, it is still young. But I think we remain cautiously optimistic for the GOP in 2024,” he said.
Paul Zaim ’28 from Romania was among several international students who attended the watch party. He shared his perspective on the global effects of the election.
“I remember four years ago watching the 2020 race back home and staying up until 5 a.m. to watch the electoral votes coming in and the states flipping. Being here gives me flashbacks of that,” he said. “But there are mixed emotions, because the election has a much bigger impact on me now that I am here in the U.S., but at the same time, even though I am not a citizen and don’t have the ability to vote. There are definitely a lot of emotions, especially regarding the foreign policy of the candidates and the way it can impact my home country, especially being so close to the war in Ukraine.”
Rock Braten ’25 described the watch party as a relief from the earlier stresses of waiting over an hour to vote that afternoon around 2 p.m.
The Senate race between Bob Casey and Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, as of Nov. 7, has still not been called. (William Oehler/The Gettysburgian)
“It was a little hard to vote in CUB today, with two hour long lines, which was a little upsetting,” said Braten. “But I’m really happy that different organizations on campus could come together to watch the results in a non biased way, and we could all just come together, watch and eat food and celebrate with each other. No matter what happens, we can all be together.”
The watch party was scheduled to conclude at midnight, though several students remained past 2 a.m. to hear ABC announce Pennsylvania as a win for Donald Trump, essentially granting victory to the former president. Around 5:30 a.m., the Associated Press called the race for Trump.
In light of the national intensity of the months leading up to the election, the College was encouraged to avoid partisan aggression through personal reflection and civil discourse by the College’s Conversations for Change Initiative.
