With Super Tuesday underway, many voters headed to the polls early this morning and will continue to file through until voting closes at 7:30 p.m. Burlington local Jim Sykes said that voting is extremely important for the younger community members — as they are the future of this area.
“To look and listen and look at the responsibility you will have in this country,” Sykes said. “Moving forward, moving sideways or backwards — it’s now your turn.”
Sykes said he knew he needed to get out and vote because of the political issues going on within the state of North Carolina.
“There are a lot of smaller towns and cities in North Carolina and we now have an influx of population all over the state,” Sykes said. “Some of these small towns are not prepared to handle the demands of the new era here. We simply do not have the staff to do that.”
Elon University senior Lauryn Carlton, who voted at Elon Elementary in Burlington at around 11 a.m., said she feels an obligation as a student to make sure that young people have their voices heard.
“You got to hear our voice. Honestly, I think as a person of color, if you don't speak up, then you're going to lose your rights,” Carlton said. “I talk a lot about politics, so I feel like if you don't vote, then you can't say anything. So that's the main thing for me. If I don't go vote, I can't say anything.”
Joyce Paisley, wife of County Commissioner candidate John Paisley, said that voting is one of the biggest rights that people have and urges everyone to use this right.
“I think this country was founded by people wanting freedom to determine their own way of life. And voting is the only way we maintain that freedom,” Paisley said. “I hope everybody gets out and votes because it's a real shame when a small percentage of the population makes choices that the entire population has to live with.”
For college students in particular, Joyce reiterated that Elon students have an opportunity to make an impact on their local community by voting.
“You are living in a community for at least four years,” Paisley said. “As a college student, you're learning how to determine your own values — and voting is part of that. I think the connection to the community and the connection to your own sense of integrity — and what's right and what's wrong — is represented very well in the voting process.”
Joyce said she believes North Carolina has several issues going on that need strong and capable leaders.
“Particularly on the local level, because there have been so many issues on the local level from the support of the school, the tax revaluation, to what we're going to do about providing space for court officials that come in that have already been appointed because of the growth in this county,” Joyce said. “This county is growing rapidly. Rapid Growth is hard to manage. And these guys running on the local level all have a different view of how to manage that and they are all very passionate about their view being the best one for this county.”
The conclusion of primary elections cements candidates for the general elections ballot on Nov. 5.