WSU’s voting hub is set to reach record turnout this year.
There will be an estimated 2,500 students who used the voting hub this year, Ben Calabretta, director of the Center of Civil engagement said.
“It’s just been busy, both days, lots of people registering to vote,” Calabretta said.
“This is my first time voting,” said Lenna Lundin, student and volunteer at the hub. “I think this is a really big moment in history, and I think that every person’s vote matters a lot, especially in 2024.”
The high turnout was a problem, said Lexi Smith-Bishop, student and first-time voter.
“I was just tired the entire time,” Smith-Bishop said. “The wait was two hours, and it was another 30 minutes to go to the voting machine.”
Smith-Bishop did feel voting was worth the wait.
“It’s really awesome to have my opinions put out there and to be listened to,” Smith-Bishop said.
People can vote at the hub after polls close, as long as they are in line by 8 p.m., Calabretta said.
Around 900 people used the hub in 2020. Turnout was expected to be roughly 2,000 people, he said.
The Hub is in accordance with a Washington state law that was passed in 2020. The CCE partnered with ASWSU, the CUB and the Whitman County Auditor’s office.
