Norman voters would have preferred more options

Mar. 31—Young voters in Norman said they weren't surprised the election will feature a rematch between President Biden and Former President Trump but would have preferred a larger field of candidates.

Krislyn Sherer is a 21-year-old student at the University of Oklahoma, where she is a junior studying sociology. Sherer is the co-founder and vice president of OU's chapter of IGNITE, a national program that trains women to become more active in politics and community leadership.

What are the most important issues for voters in the 2024 election?

"I mean, for me, I'm most definitely paying the most attention right now to Palestine, which is just out of the norm for me. Like, international politics typically don't govern my domestic politics, but how I feel about domestic politics right now, it really is (influenced by Palestine)."

"Aside from that, I would say probably gun rights. That, specifically in Oklahoma, is something that I'm really paying attention to, because we have a ban on red flag laws ... Like, it's not incredibly safe to be a student, like there was the swatting that happened last spring at OU."

"I think maintenance of the democracy of the United States is really important, because in truth, there is Project 2025 — which is the GOP's announced platform for if Trump wins and they have majority in Congress. It is very authoritarian. It does not reflect democratic values or maintain the free democracy of the United States."

Are you disappointed the parties couldn't come up with somebody better or younger generation to nominate? Who else would you favor and why?

"I was not surprised that both of them ended up winning. I am disappointed that the GOP hasn't more strongly backed a different candidate. I feel like they are becoming dangerously extremist."

"I don't know exactly who as a Republican I could think of, but I know Nikki Haley was a really close contender. I don't know if I would have wanted Nikki Haley as my first female president, but I would not have wanted Trump."

"Trump and Biden being the picks again has also made me, and I think a lot of other voters, pay more attention to third-party candidates. Not that third-party candidates are viable as ones who will win, because electoral politics are electoral politics."

"There are so many reasons why I don't want to vote for Biden, but there are more reasons not to vote for Trump. And unfortunately, I don't want to settle anymore. I want there to be a candidate who reflects what I think the future of the country should be."

"None of the candidates on the list made me feel like they represented what I wanted them to be representing. I honestly think part of that might just be the DNC no longer represents what I want to represent or what I believe, because I think it's more corporate-minded. It's very, very similar to the GOP in that way, like these national parties are very heavily influenced by lobbyists."

"I want to run for office one day, and I'm struggling to figure out who I want to vote for, which is not how it should be. Because how do I then help other people feel like their vote actually matters, their voice can actually be heard, when I don't even feel like my voice is being heard?"

"Our options were very limited for someone who would at least reflect the ideals or have similar experiences as people in my generation."

If it is Trump-Biden, how will you vote?

"I will never say that I don't think voting matters, because I stand firmly in the fact that voting is always important. Voting in every election. Because every election is determined by the people who show up."

"It's unfortunately going to be Biden ... I don't want to vote for him, but I can't vote for Trump."

Natalie Williams, 20, lives Purcell. She is studying professional writing at the University of Oklahoma

What are your thoughts on the election?

"It's pretty crazy. I'm really interested it I mean, see what's going to happen, especially in the media."

"I think it's going to be pretty tight. I think Trump is going to win, but I don't know. I actually just did a government paper over presidential candidates. We had to pick one, and I did Nikki Haley, but she dropped out."

"It's interesting that both candidates are former presidents."

What issues matter to you right now?

"I think taxes are a pretty big deal, and the way people deal with other countries."

"I am worried about security and getting gas down. I know it is more of a pocketbook vote, but I whatever a affects my personal finances, that's always a big thing. I want to feel secure in the way we handle things with other countries, and I feel like Trump did a pretty good job."