For many University students, this election will be the their first time to cast a presidential ballot.

For agricultural business sophomore Gabe Stelly, this election is important to him because he feels like he finally has a voice.

Stelly said he has always been involved with politics on the local level by talking to people and expressing his views. He said he feels like he finally has a reason to campaign now that his vote counts this year.

He said it’s important for students to vote because their votes could affect the job market and their opportunities for future careers.

“This is your country and you are in college to get a job, but you might not have a job to get in four years when you graduate if you don’t go out and vote,” Stelly said.

Biology freshman David LaPlante also said it is students’ responsibilities to research the candidates and figure out what they think is best.

He said even though each person only has one vote, talking to people could help others make decisions.

“You can actually sway a lot more votes than just your own. You can campaign yourself,” LaPlante said.

Stelly said he has always paid attention to the news but has been particularly attentive during this election season.

He said much can be learned about a candidate from the debates by the amount of pressure the candidates face.

“The president is always under pressure. That won’t change my vote, but it’s important to see how they act under pressure,” Stelly said.

However, LaPlante said he thinks the debates are subjective and there is no defined winner.

“Everybody wants to say that whoever they decided on won the debate,” LaPlante said.

LaPlante said voting is more of a responsibility than a privilege, adding he hopes other students make their own decisions instead of relying on their parents or peers to make decisions for them. He said voting for the same candidate as one’s parents isn’t always a bad thing, and it can be completely just.

“I see it as a responsibility to absorb as much information as you can, but a lot of people are spoon-fed what they are going to vote by their parents and peers,” LaPlante said.

LaPlante said he was open-minded when he made his decision, and he hopes other students will be, too.

He said he plans to watch the results alone because he doesn’t want to be ganged up on by people supporting a different candidate.

“It would be like watching the ’Bama game in the ’Bama section, especially if ’Bama wins,” LaPlante said.

Stelly said he plans to watch the election results with the College Republicans of Louisiana State University dressed as Ronald Reagan.