Students turn out to vote in midterm elections

All across the nation, citizens exercised their right to vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Many Liberty University students who live on campus and are registered to vote in Virginia had the opportunity to cast their ballot at the Vines Center.

More than 1,200 students showed up to the polls, a significant increase from the last city council election.

Liberty’s voting precinct (Lynchburg City Third Ward, Second Precinct) at the university’s basketball arena was formed in October 2011 and officially opened in March 2012. Students voted for president for the first time from campus in 2012, accounting for more votes than any other precinct in Lynchburg, Va.

More than 1,000 new voters registered for the first time in Liberty’s precinct this semester.

To ensure that students had plenty of time to cast their ballots, the university cancelled all classes after 1 p.m. To celebrate, free food, including pizza and wings, was offered outside the Vines Center to anyone, whether they voted or not.