ICE News 2024 Election Guide, Including Our Endorsement for President

Vote Tuesday, Nov. 5, to Let Your Voice be Heard

Nico Arroyo, Layla Browne, and Harper Syres

November 1, 2024

Members of the Manchester Political Union, including, left Giselle Ntiamoah-Larbi and, Kynnyah Johnson, right, held two Voter Registration drives on campus in October.

Harper Syres

https://www.manchesterct.gov/Government/Latest-News/Work-at-the-Polls

Resources for Connecticut Voters

To be an engaged voter, it’s essential to know what’s on the ballot and understand the candidates’ positions on issues that matter to students. Here are some resources to help you do just that:

Connecticut Secretary of State’s Office: This site offers sample ballots, candidate information, polling locations, and more. You can find it here: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/voter-fact-sheet
Connecticut Mirror’s Voter Guide: This guide breaks down key races and ballot initiatives. It’s a user-friendly resource for getting a deeper understanding of what’s at stake: https://ctmirror.org/2024/09/17/ct-2024-election-voter-guide/.
MyVote.CT.gov: This portal lets you check your registration status, find your polling place, and get details on early voting locations. Access it at MyVote.CT.gov.
Voter Registration Lookup and Election Polling Place Locator: This link is helpful in understanding which location you are eligible to vote in and how to register to vote in the state of Connecticut: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
- Fun Fact: Thanks to Connecticut’s new Election Day Registration law, you can register and vote in person on Election Day at your town’s Election Day Registration location. https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/where-and-how-do-i-vote
Hours of Voting: Polls in Connecticut are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5
Resources (Nationally): https://www.usa.gov/how-to-vote

https://www.manchesterct.gov/Government/Latest-News/Work-at-the-Polls (Town of Manchester )

Presidential Election

Once again, it is time for the Presidential election. Here are some of the biggest topics being talked about:

Reproductive Rights – One candidate supports states’ rights on abortion procedures, and would not sign a federal abortion ban. However, they have stated they would support a 20-week federal ban with a few exceptions to special circumstances. The other candidate wants to put the protections of Roe v. Wade back in place and put them into law. The right to abortion has been the center and drive of this candidate’s campaign.
Immigration – One candidate wants to avoid the separation of families and favors allowing undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for a green card. They have also backed a bipartisan bill that would raise the bar for asylum-seekers to enter the country and be approved, giving the president more power to turn away new arrivals if migration levels hit certain triggers. The other candidate is in support of a wall keeping immigrants from the Mexican border from entering the country, as well as deputizing the U.S. National Guard and local law enforcement to assist with removing illegal immigrants from entering the country. This other candidate is also against the bipartisan bill.
LGBTQIA+ Rights – One candidate wants to ban gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, and sue doctors who have given said care, and teaching/promoting the nuclear family, and the importance of having a mother and father. The other candidate wants to keep in place the anti-discrimination laws in the workplace against LGBTQIA+ individuals and supports trans people’s rights to use the bathroom based on their gender identity.

Local Elections

While presidential elections tend to dominate the news cycle, state and local elections are where many of the decisions that directly impact our lives are made. Engaging in these elections is one of the most effective ways for voters to influence policies on critical issues in our communities. For CT State Community College students, state and local elections are particularly important since the decisions made by elected officials can directly impact issues that matter most to us as students, like tuition increases, funding for the state’s 12 community colleges and 4 state universities, campus safety, and public transportation access. More on those issues:

Education: State legislators decide on budgets for public colleges, including the 12 community colleges and 4 state universities in Connecticut. They influence policies around tuition rates, financial aid programs and course availability. Voting for candidates who prioritize affordable education can help make college more accessible.
Campus Resources: Funding for campus resources, like mental health services, academic tutoring and support, and extracurricular programs, is often determined by state budgets and policies. Electing officials who advocate for student needs can result in better campus facilities and more support services.
Public Transportation and Infrastructure: Local officials make decisions on public transit routes, road repairs, and pedestrian safety. These decisions shape how easily we can commute to campus, get to work, and move around the community. They also influence prices on busses and trains. If you rely on public transportation to get to campus, local government decisions about transit routes, schedules, and fares directly impact your daily life. Supporting candidates who prioritize accessible and affordable public transportation can improve the quality of your commute.
Healthcare and Safety Regulations: State and local officials set policies on healthcare services and public health measures. These policies determine funding for health centers, regulations for public safety, and emergency response services.
Employment Opportunities and Worker Protections: Many community college students work part-time while attending school. Local officials often decide on policies related to minimum wage, worker rights, and job training programs. By voting for candidates who support fair wages and strong worker protections, students can advocate for better working conditions and higher pay.

Our Endorsement

ICE News endorses Kamala Harris as its candidate of choice in the 2024 presidential election.

We as an organization recognize Harris as the most fit candidate from the Democratic and Republican parties for President of the United States in terms of policy and presentation. This endorsement does not come without criticism, as Harris’s values do not reflect the views of all the ICE News members, particularly on her neutrality towards the occupation of Palestine. Our endorsement is purely based on the Harris-Waltz campaign’s progressive stance on issues such as reproductive rights, the climate crisis, Social Security, and Medicare.