JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- The Presidential election will be here in no time. And college campuses like University of North Florida's have an opportunity to play a key role.
"What are the issues they stand for and what is the relevance to my life?" questioned UNF student Duwand Constant of the candidates.
Constant is constantly researching the Presidential showdown. He's fully prepared to make his voice heard. But to win his vote, the candidate better address the topics that matter to him.
"Financial aid, loans, those are the issues that affect us directly," he said.
Not a big surprise, other college kids have the same priorities.
"Definitely stuff that involves students like college loans," said Christine McFaul.
While social security, medicare and the deficit are debated regularly, those aren't the issues that these kids care about. It doesn't effect them and in turn, causes them to lose interest. But there's a reason why they're hot topics.
"Older citizens tend to vote more frequently and because of that they get their needs tended to on a greater level," said UNF Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Michael Binder.
Dr. Binder says if college kids head in droves to the polls, they not only can decide this election, they can force their issues to the forefront.
"If 18 to 24-year-olds voted with the vigor and consistency that the 65 and older voted with maybe we wouldn't be talking about rates here at UNF and other state universities doubling and tripling."
Binder says while the Presidential race is the biggie, it is almost more important for college kids to focus on state level races. Those are the ones that could really impact college funding and tuition.
