FGCU students follow midterm recounts

Everyone is waiting to find out the results of Florida’s recounts. These machines that were once working around the clock at the Lee County elections building are quiet now. This historic election is teaching some college students a lesson or two.

WINK News spoke to student-voters at Florida Gulf Coast University, who have been actively following the elections undergoing recounts in the state, Thursday.

“When I started seeing it close, I was like yeah that one vote could be me,” Nick Hulbert, an FGCU freshman. “I don’t know. I got excited.”

When Florida’s midterm races for Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner heated up, the  excitement for some young voters did too.

“The percentage of people 18 to 30 amounted to about 13 percent  of the total vote nationwide,” said FGCU Professor Peter Bergerson, who teaches political science and public administration.

Students at FGCU were proactive this election.

“I did do early voter’s registration here in Lee County,” said Christina Aragon, an FGCU freshman.

Students at FGCU were involved this election.

“I was working for one of the campaigns over the election,” said Joseph Perez, an FGCU senior.

And, students at FGCU did filled out vote-by-mail ballots.

“I actually did early registration voting,” said Kevin Martin, an FGCU sophomore. “So, I voted by mail ballot

Bergerson said the record voter turnout overall spurred the craziness we are now seeing with recounts and lawsuits.

“Broward, Palm Beach, Miami Beach Dade,” Bergerson said.

While the recount madness has soured the election process for many, it has not done that for these young voters.

“And seeing it be like 0.22 percent for nelson was like, ‘Wow, it is this close,’” Perez said. “Every vote really actually counts. So, everyone should go out and vote.”

Students also discovered how Lee County ensures their votes count with bilingual poll workers, four-month-long poll worker training and the use of Wi-Fi and USB drives to transmit results.

“Lee County was pretty much on point with everything,” Perez said. “Just perfect.”

It’s a lesson that will count far beyond the classroom.

“It was so close here in Florida that every vote really did matter,” Aragon said.

Students and college professors agree.

“Every vote counts,” Bergerson said.