For many Auburn students, this year's presidential election on Nov. 8, 2016, will be their first. Some keep up with candidates and their policies through social media as well as debates, while others choose to do their own research on each candidate.
With nine debates and five forums for the Republican candidates and six debates and six forums for the Democratic candidates, it can be hard for college students to know what every candidate is saying. Students were asked to identify each candidate by their policies, which were obtained through each candidate's official website.
Zach Alexander, sophomore in electrical engineering, said he watches the debates to learn about each candidate. Alexander said it can be hard to keep up with what the candidates are saying because "they can kind of talk over your head" during the debates.
Alexander said he can understand why people are drawn to candidates such as Bernie Sanders.
"I think the reason he has a good following is because he makes it very easy to understand [him]," Alexander said. "When I look at it, he speaks [about] some of the same things I've been thinking."
After guessing Marco Rubio on some of Ted Cruz's policies like not supporting requiring women to register for the draft, Alexander said he is more focused on what policies the presidential candidates have regarding college students, like tuition.
"That [other[ stuff doesn’t really apply to me right now," Alexander said.
Alexander said he likes to consider both sides equally when considering a candidate.
"I just like to be an independent," Alexander said. "I don't want to be tied to a party or anything, so I just want to vote for the field."
Makala Gibson, sophomore in business, said she's not that into politics but will listen if she hears anything about the candidates. Gibson said she'll research the candidates as election date approaches.
"I don't think you should go [vote] for your family or what you've been raised off of," Gibson said. "You should try to find your own opinion."
After guessing Bernie Sanders on some of Hillary Clinton's policies, Gibson said she thinks people manipulate what the candidates say in the debates.
"I think the debates are for show, honestly," Gibson said. "I’d love if they just got up there and were like, 'This is what I’m for,' [and] not talking about so and so."
Michael Hoeft, junior in agriculture, said he watches all of the debates, both Democratic and Republican. After guessing correctly on Bernie Sander's policies and guessing Donald Trump on Jeb Bush's policies, Hoeft said he doesn't think it's hard for college students to keep up with the candidates.
"I think college students are less informed people because they’re not really paying attention to taxes," Hoeft said. "Not all of them are actually voting, [and] they’re more focused on school."
Hoeft said he also doesn't support free tuition.
"Who's going to pay for that?," Hoeft said. "Tax payers. I don't know if that's really the government's job [or if] that's really the government's responsibility to pay for people's college tuition."
When it comes to choosing a presidential candidate, Hoeft said to do research.
"You want to know the policies, but the thing is, a lot of them are liars," Hoeft said. "You just have to pick out who you think is better than the other person."
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