Updated as of 11:55 p.m. on Nov. 5 to include video.
Roughly 55 students gathered in the Global Commons Great Hall for an election night watch party hosted by Elon Votes and funded by the Student Government Association from 8 to 11 p.m.
Junior Emily Stuart, co-lead civic engagement ambassador with Elon Votes, said events like this are important to bring students together.
“We really just want to feel like the whole community can be brought together and feel welcome and all celebrate participating in democracy,” Stuart said.
North Carolina is among the seven battleground states that will help decide the outcome of the presidential race, making this an important night for many Elon students.
Freshman and North Carolina native Isis Ruiz-Nunez said she chose to attend the watch party because of the community support.
“If I was in my dorm, I wouldn’t have anybody to freak out with,” Ruiz-Nunez said. “I feel like at the watch party, even though you might have two sides, two parties, watching, you still have people from your own party who are right there, feeling the same emotions as you.”
Freshman Peyton Shaw also said she decided to attend the watch party to be with her friends.
“A lot of people have anxiety around this time, and it’s such an important election because it will impact us for the next four years,” Shaw said. “Being able to be surrounded by people I know and just talking and doing homework together while it’s playing really brings the experience together.”
Elon Votes sets up table to welcome students to the Watch Party Nov. 5 in the Global Commons Great Hall.
Freshman Miles Prenda, civic engagement ambassador with Elon Votes, helped students register to vote, fill out absentee ballots.
“I was very happy that I was able to actually participate in the democratic process and act as a person to help other people participate,” Prenda said. “I personally believe that participation is what makes democracy actually democracy.”
Prenda said he chose to attend the watch party to watch the updates on the large TV screens and see people’s reactions.
Just before 9 p.m., the AP called the North Carolina gubernatorial race, naming Josh Stein the winner.
Ruiz-Nunez said this is good news.
“I’m so happy right now,” Ruiz-Nunez said. “Just relieved.”
As Josh Stein spoke on NBC’s broadcast at 9:30 p.m., freshman and North Carolina native Sahara Preudhomme said she was optimistic.
“I feel like there is hope for the election,” Preudhomme said. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction, at least for North Carolina. I’m hoping the other states pull through as well.”
As Preudhomme continues to watch the broadcast, she said she is nervous but hopes other voters make informed choices.
“I'm just hoping that everybody kind of knows what they're truly voting for and knows their repercussions for their actions,” Predhomme said.
Students record live results of the election Nov. 5 at the election night watch party hosted by Elon Votes in the Global Commons Great Hall.
Freshman Carrington Black changed her registration from Dallas, Texas, to Elon, North Carolina, and said with Texas’ voting history, her vote would carry more weight in the swing state she now calls home.
“Frankly, North Carolina is one of my homes,” Black said. “I live here, so I want to make sure that what I voted for, I truly believe.”
Freshman Luke Kohler, a Pennsylvania resident, voted absentee and compared the live election coverage to a sports game, with each candidate scoring points back and forth.
Kohler said he chose to vote in the swing state because of how close the presidential races have been. In 2020, Biden won the 15 electoral college votes by just over 80,000 votes.
Sophomore Pearson Dyslin, president of Elon’s Politics, Philosophy and Economic Society, which hosted its own watch party. Dyslin joined the Global Commons watch party after it concluded to see how many students attended and what the energy was like in the room.
“You can feel the energy in the room,” Dyslin said. “It seems like people are expectant but mostly calm.”
Dyslin said as she looks forward to this week, she hopes results will be finalized soon and Elon as a student body will remain friendly regardless of the outcome.
“I hope that we find out sooner rather than later,” Dyslin said. “I hope that the energy on campus stays amicable.”