Early voting opened in Michigan Feb. 17.
Courtesy | Robyn Beck

Voting is now underway in Michigan with early in-person voting beginning Feb. 17 for the first time in state history. 

“My hope is that a candidate which is currently not on the ballot would somehow emerge,” said Jason Gehrke, assistant professor of history. “I don’t see any candidates that deserve the office. At all. Not even close. ” 

Former President Donald Trump visited Michigan this past weekend on the day early voting began. 

Gehrke said the lack of virtue among the candidates disqualifies them from the office. More than anything, Gehrke said the responsibility of the American people is to uphold the order of the republic.

“The form of government that we have is unsuited for vicious people,” he said. “If you can’t do the job, if you’re incompetent, if you’re undignified, if you’re dishonest, all of that matters.”

None of the current options on the ballot come close to meeting the requirements, he said.

Freshman Luke Waters disagreed.

“Trump’s the only viable candidate in this upcoming election,” Waters said. “He has such a strong base that there’s really no argument against him. No one can really take him out. We saw that as everyone consecutively dropped out — they realized that.”

Waters said Trump should be re-elected in 2024 because of his former accomplishments.

“He promised he was going to appoint judges, and that’s what he did,” Waters said.“For Roe, I would be content 10 times over for him being president. That’s above no new wars, and gas prices, and economy, which are all great.”  

Trump currently faces charges for election interference, paying off a sex scandal, and absconding with security documents. 

The fact that Trump has been charged with multiple legal counts is an indicator that he is a good candidate, according to Waters. 

“In this day and age, if the radical left is not trying to imprison you or prohibit people from voting for you, then you’re not dangerous enough,” he said.

Waters said he thinks that while extending the voting period was another move by liberal politicians to have an advantage in the vote, conservatives must take advantage of the extra time. 

“We have to play now by the new rules that have been established by the left,” Waters said. “But I think the longer it’s open, the more opportunity for fraud.” 

Gehrke agreed that a lengthened voting period is bound to lead to corruption, but his concern lay more in the overall corruption of American politics.

“I think the extended voting period is a degradation of the activity of voting,” Gehrke said. “A week of voting? It undermines the institution.”

Gehrke said voting must be respected rather than informalized.

“You put a ballot box in a room,” Gehrke said. “You secure the room. You make it socially unacceptable to ask people who they voted for because you are securing the right of the American citizen to vote.”

Freshman Ryan Rodell pointed out the advantages of having a longer voting period, saying it may lead to a higher turnout among conservatives.

“An extended voting period for conservatives will give them more time to mobilize,” Rodell said. “This could be a good way to mobilize voters, ironically, by making them mad at the voting system.”  

He also attributed Trump’s motive in having a rally this past weekend to raising voter numbers.

“His goal was probably to remobilize his voter base,” Rodell said. “Secondly, Trump is probably hoping to capitalize on this extended voting period.”

Rodell’s primary concern is that voters put Republicans in the House and Senate. He fears the unwillingness of “left-wing” politicians to compromise endangers people’s rights.

“My biggest hope for this election is that either the Senate or the House becomes more Republican,” Rodell said. “Just the fact that there’s such a Democratic majority in the government means that nothing can be done to stop the Democrats.” 

Rodell said it seems Republicans will not have the majority, at least in Michigan.

“Realistically, Michigan will probably go blue,” he said. “I would hope they would go red. I don’t really see that unless something drastic changes.”