Daily Wildcat | 2020 Election Preview | Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020

THE DAILY WILDCAT

Special Edition • Wednesday, October 21, 2020 • VOLUME 114 • ISSUE 53

SINCE 1899, THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA & TUCSON • ONLINE, ALL THE TIME, AT DAILYWILDCAT.COM

GO V TE!

The 2020 election is quickly approaching (Nov. 3, to be exact), but the Daily Wildcat has you covered! We’ve broken down what you need to know, from local candidates and propositions to federal proposed climate change policies to an international perspective on our election. Your vote matters, make sure it’s informed!

Proposition breakdown Pg. 6

Going over the Ariz. ballot Pg. 12

Voting info/places map Pg. 20

More

2 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 Election Guide | VOLUME 114, ISSUE 53

Prop Guide

6

Opinion

Breaking down what each proposition means on the ballot

10

Ballot Breakdown

Editors share their thoughts on the importance of voting in this election

12

Health Care Looking at each presidential candidates’ health care proposals

Climate Change Comparing Trump and Biden’s Climate plans

15

Voting Map

20

The DW goes over everything on this election’s ballot

18

Topic of the Week

Map showing where to vote and/or turn in your ballot

23

What does voting mean to our staffers?

For more content updated daily, visit dailywildcat.com. To submit story pitches or community commentary, email storyideas@dailywildcat.com or message us through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @DailyWildcat VOLUME 114 • ISSUE 53 Editor-in-Chief Sam Burdette editor@dailywildcat.com

Assistant Sports Editor Ari Koslow arikoslow@dailywildcat.com

Photo Editor Sofia Moraga photo@dailywildcat.com

Managing Editor Pascal Albright pascal@dailywildcat.com

Enterprise Editor Jake Toole investigative@dailywildcat.com

Copy Chief JT Thorpe copy@dailywildcat.com

News Editor Priya Jandu news@dailywildcat.com

Arts & Life Editor Mikayla Kaber arts@dailywildcat.com

Assistant Copy Chief Grant Forgues GrantF@dailywildcat.com

Science Editor Amit Syal science@dailywildcat.com

Assistant Arts & Life Editor Ella McCarville ellam@dailywildcat.com

Writing Coach Amber Soland

Sports Editor Jacob Mennuti sports@dailywildcat.com

Opinions Editor Kayleigh Cook opinion@dailywildcat.com

ambers@dailywildcat.com

Newsroom (520) 621-3551

THE DAILY WILDCAT

News Reporters Jillian Bartsch Maggie Rockwell Kristijan Barnjak Ian Tisdale Briana Aguilar Hillary Schiff Annie Gao Sydney Jones Harry Yadav Kara Hix

Science Reporters Jillian Bartsch Quinn McVeigh Vivek Aking Andres Diaz Maya Sarihan Vivian Alonso

Physical Address 888 N. Euclid Ave., Room 301

Tucson, Arizona 85719

Sydney Jones Gabriella Cobian Udbhav Venkataraman Briana Aguilar Johnnie Mitchell

Arts & Life Reporters Katie Beauford Elvia Verdugo Amaris Encinas Diana Ramos Gloria Gómez Gabriella Cobian Grace Katich Allison Fagan Solana Royston Abbie Kosoc Tia Stephens

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Sports Reporters Hailey King Jake Faigus Johnnie Mitchell Mackenzie Payton Ryan Wohl CJ Lala Devin Homer Enterprise Reporters Quinn McVeigh Capri Fain Dmitri Rudakewich Photographers Sohi Kang Megan Ewing Lauren Salgado Jacqueline Canett

Mailing Address University Services Building, Room 301

Opinion Writers Selena Kuikahi Rhaya Truman Pavas Gupta Eva Halvax Copy Editors Brynne Feinberg Hannah Martuscello Frances Drye Brianna Hall Sohi Kang Design Chief Pascal Albright Designers Molly Cline

Business Development Gracie Munson Johnny Tackitt Ian Green Advertising Design Katie Yung UATV 3 General Manager Joseph Rogers gm@UATV.arizona.edu KAMP Student Radio General Manager Brody Dryden gm@KAMP.arizona.edu

Advertising (520) 621-3425

PO BOX 210158 Tucson, Arizona 85721

ABOUT THE DAILY WILDCAT: The Daily Wildcat is the University of Arizona’s student-run, independent news source. While publishing daily online at DailyWildcat.com, its print edition is distributed on campus and throughout Tucson during fall and spring semesters. The function of the Wildcat is to disseminate news to the community and to encourage an exchange of ideas. The Daily Wildcat was founded in 1899. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in the newspaper or DailyWildcat.com are the sole property of the Daily Wildcat and may not be reproduced without the specific consent of the editor-in-chief. A single print copy of the Daily Wildcat is free from newsstands. Unauthorized removal of multiple copies will be considered theft and may be prosecuted. Additional print copies of the Daily Wildcat are available from the Arizona Student Media office. The Daily Wildcat is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Arizona Newspapers Association.

EDITORIAL POLICY: Daily Wildcat

editorials represent the official opinion of the Daily Wildcat opinions board, which is determined at opinions board meetings. Opinion columns, guest commentary, cartoons, online comments and letters to the editors do not represent the opinion of the publication, but that of the author.

CORRECTIONS: Corrections or complaints concerning Daily Wildcat content should be directed to the editor-in-chief. For further information on the Daily Wildcat’s approved grievance policy, readers may contact Brett Fera, director of Arizona Student Media, in the Sherman R. Miller 3rd Newsroom at the University Services Building.

NEWS TIPS: (520) 621-3193 The Daily Wildcat is always interested in story ideas and tips from readers. If you see something deserving of coverage, contact the newsroom at storyideas@dailywildcat.com or call 621-3193.

ON THE COVER: Student votes by mail at the USPS collection box on campus, located near the Global Center. | Photo by Lauren Salgado

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

The Daily Wildcat • 3

Election Day is November 3.

You can vote early.

You can vote by mail.

You can vote on Election Day. Go to voteamerica.com/students

VoteAmerica.com

4 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | ARIZONA

Election 2020: Is Arizona finally going blue?

BY MAGGIE ROCKWELL @magzrock

Traditionally, Arizona has had great consistency in being red: the red rocks, the red sunsets and being a red state. Rooted in its Western heritage, Arizonans tend to consider their individual liberties and ideas of small government to be of great importance to them.

If you’ve lived in Arizona for a long time, you don’t think twice when you see something like supermarket shoppers and movie theater goers wearing firearms.

As the 2020 elections draw closer, it is becoming increasingly clear that Arizona’s long-perceived stance as a red, or Republican, state could shift to change the entire election.

With Republican dominance in the state offices, Arizona does tend to lean more right.

“Arizona has stayed Republican for so long and tends to be politically conservative because of the belief that we are a free state, the adoption of Republican principles, keeping the government out of our hair, ... a true free Western state,” said Pima County Republicans First Vice Chairman Chris King.

While Arizona has long sported the title of being a red state, it has never truly been as red as people believe in elections.

Therefore, the idea of it turning blue is really not shocking to political experts, like University of Arizona public policy professor Thomas Volgy.

“It was considered a ‘pink’ state, capable of turning purple or blue,” Volgy said via email. “However, it wasn’t tested previously because the national democratic party never really put much resources into the state in the past.”

UA professor Barbara Norrander also spoke on Republican prominence in Arizona.

“Republicans have been the dominant party in Arizona for several decades,” Norrander said via email. “The best indicator of this is for lower-level offices where the vote is based more on the

“

MEGAN EWING | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A SUPPORTER OF THE Biden/Harris campaign greets the campaign’s bus with excitement, Friday, Oct. 9, in Tucson. The bus made stops in Yuma and Tucson to share more information about the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaign.

party labels. The Republican Party has controlled the state legislature for many decades. Republicans also tend to win the statewide races, such as for governor.

Arizona senators also have tended to be Republicans.”

Reading or listening to the news, Arizona has continued to come up again and again as one of the most important states in the presidential election with it being a “swing state.” According to Norrander, a swing state is a state where either party could win both the presidency and the Senate seat. Arizona being a swing state is not a new concept.

With uncertainty on which way Arizona would go in the last election, it going red was surprising to some. How unpredictable is this swing, though?

“It could really go either way. Things can change before election day, we won’t know until it actually happens,” said UA

law student and Get Out The Vote member Christina Billhartz.

Political experts believe that the chances of Arizona going blue are much higher than we think, though, according to polling and data.

“All the demographics and polling suggest that the chances of Arizona going blue, depending on turnout in the next couple of weeks, is better than 50-50,” Volgy said via email. “The demographics suggest that if that happens, it is likely to stay that way, with Arizona having two U.S. Senators, and probably a majority of its representatives.”

Norrander said that though presidential candidate Joe Biden and Arizona Senatorial candidate Mark Kelly are ahead in the polls, it’s not a guarantee they’ll respectively win.

“The key to Arizona elections is often in Maricopa county, where 3 out of 5

Arizonans live,” Norrander said via email.

“So any changes in Maricopa county could change the outcome statewide. The place to look is at the Phoenix suburbs, with some remaining Republican and some showing signs of becoming more Democratic.”

So what is causing this great shift in Arizona in recent years? The answer can’t be condensed down to one factor, but the biggest reason is political strength in the form of new residents.

“Growth in Latino strength politically (Democratic voters), the loss by Republicans of suburbanites disgusted with the present administration, and an influx of new residents who lean more Democratic,” Volgy said.

Along with this, the general dissatisfaction with the Republican party is stronger than ever as COVID-19 continues to plague the state and nation. Small businesses, which have a strong presence in Arizona, were hit harder than ever, with little help from the government. The discussion of handlings/mishandlings is a key issue for some people as they head to the polls, according to Billhartz.

The breakdown of Arizona voter demographics stays relatively the same, with much of the swing vote riding on the Independent and unaffiliated voters.

“In terms of numbers, rural parts of Arizona are going to stay red, reservations and Pima County are going to stay blue, Maricopa County is probably going to stay pink and maybe go purple ... The swing vote is going to go to the independents,” King said.

The idea of independent voters deciding the election is prominent in all swing state discussions but has been especially emphasized recently around Arizona.

Arizona is 31.92% unaffiliated, 32.41% Democrat, 34.84% Republican and a whopping .83% Libertarian, with 32,965 Arizonans registered as Independent. This means that the swing will ultimately go to the Independent voters and the unaffiliated

ARIZONA, 11

It could really go either way, things can change before election day, we won’t know until it actually happens.” — CHRISTINA BILLHARTZ, GET OUT THE VOTE MEMBER

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

The Daily Wildcat • 3

Show your

WILDCAT SPIRIT! ®

Pick your favorite Hughes University of Arizona® Debit Card when you open an account online or by visiting one of our convenient branches.* You’ll also get great Hughes benefits such as Checking PLUS (first 90 days free**) with no minimum balance and Benefits Plus® offering savings on many products and services, access to 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide and eServices including Mobile Banking, Mobile Deposits and Mobile Pay. Show your Wildcat Spirit, visit our website today.

Closest branch to campus, Speedway & Country Club

520-794-8341 | HughesFCU.org/Wildcats

Insured by NCUA *Certain restrictions apply **A $5.95 monthly fee applies after the free 90-day no obligation trial period.

You may cancel at any time. Also ask about our no fee interest earning Checking.

6 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | PROP BREAKDOWN

Your Guide to 2020 Ballot Propositions

BY KRISTIJAN BARNJAK @KBarnjak

Arizonans across the state will go to the polls this November for the 2020 General Election. Along with the political candidates that citizens will elect, voters will also have the opportunity to vote on several propositions to become law. Here’s a guide to major propositions that Pima County residents will be asked to vote on

Proposition 207 Proposition 207 would legalize and regulate marijuana for the entire state of Arizona.

Specifically, adults 21 or older would be permitted to possess, use or transfer no more than one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants at their primary residence. Smoking marijuana in “public and open places” would still be banned.

The proposition would establish a 16% excise tax on marijuana sales to fund public programs, such as community colleges, infrastructure, public safety and public health programs.

Courts would be allowed to

vacate and expunge certain marijuana arrests, charges, adjudications, convictions or sentences; citizens convicted with marijuana charges could petition for their expungement beginning July 12, 2021.

The proposition also gives state and local governments power to regulate the sale and production of marijuana by a capped number of licensees.

The interest group leading the campaign in favor of Proposition 207 is Smart and Safe Arizona. The group said the proposition will generate $300 million in Arizona state government revenue, free

Proposition 481 Proposition 481 relates to Pima Community College. It would increase the base factor of PCC’s annual expenditure limit by $11,484,199, for a new limit of approximately $30.6 million.

An expenditure limitation caps

the amount of tax-based revenues a local governmental entity can use for operational purposes. This proposition would not increase taxes, but would increase the amount of already collected government revenues that PCC could spend for

up law enforcement, provide $100 million a year for community colleges, give $15 million to the Arizona Teachers’ Academy, create thousands of jobs, fund new infrastructure projects and provide $30 million a year for public health programs.

The main opposition group against Proposition 207 is Arizonans for Health and Public Safety. The group said the proposition will lead to greater numbers of kids using highpotency marijuana, more children born with THC in their systems, an increase in impaired drivers, weaker marijuana DUI laws and “a monopoly that rewards marijuanainsiders.”

For more opinions in favor of Proposition 207, check out the

following articles: • “Proposition 207 would correct a historic wrong. Vote yes on recreational marijuana in Arizona” by the Arizona Republic Editorial Board • “Star Opinion: Prop. 207 would change Arizona forever. Vote ‘yes’” by the Arizona Daily Star Editorial Board For more opinions against Proposition 207, check out the following articles: • “Never mind Proposition 207’s objective to legalize marijuana.

The troubles are in the details”

by Robert Robb for the Arizona Republic • “Prop. 207: Will legal marijuana be a smelly problem in the Valley?” by Sonu Wasu for ABC 15 Arizona

operational purposes.

According to PCC’s governing board, these funds would allow the college to “continue to support students at the highest level, educate a highly skilled workforce and position the college to jumpstart the economy.”

For more opinions in favor of Proposition 481, check out the following article: • “2020 Star Opinion: ‘Yes’ on Prop.

481 for PCC” by the Arizona Daily Star Editorial Board For more opinions against Proposition 481, check out the following article: • “Pima Community College Is Being A Bit Underhanded About Proposition 481” by Luis Gonzalez for Arizona Daily Independent News Network.

MORE PROPS, 9

The Daily Wildcat • 7

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | UA VOTES

Student petitions to make Election Day campus holiday

BY JILLIAN BARTSCH @_thisisjillian_

A student at the University of Arizona created a petition to make Election Day a campuswide holiday.

The petition, called UAVotes, was created by Max Goodman, a politics, philosophy, economics and law major.

“With the recent efforts to limit mail-in voting, it is even more important that we are guaranteed adequate time to cast our ballots and make our voice heard,” Goodman explained in the petition.

Goodman came up with this idea because there aren’t many young voters; Tufts University found that less than 50% of college students voted in 2016. His hope is that if Election Day is a campus holiday, students won’t have to choose between school, earning income or voting.

“The price that we pay for living in a country where we are able to basically run the country through the people is that we actually take a stake in doing so,” Goodman said.

“That is what separates us from being in an authoritarian regime versus a democracy.”

Goodman started UAVotes because he said he thinks it is each citizen’s foremost duty to exercise their right to vote.

“I think that’s for a few reasons,” Goodman said. “I think young people are less likely to have the right kind of voter IDs, I think young people feel generally ignored or they feel like they aren’t informed enough to be able to vote, and they also have to choose between missing a lecture to pass one vote that may seem insignificant.”

One of Goodman’s goals is to help break that historic trend of young people not voting, he said.

Goodman’s UAVotes Initiative has an endorsement from state House member Daniel Hernandez here in Tucson. When Hernandez was at the UA, he started a similar movement.

When Hernandez had gotten to the state legislature, he made it mandatory for the universities to give students exemptions from class in order to go vote, and he also made it mandatory

COURTESY MAX GOODMAN

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA STUDENT Max Goodman created a petition to make Election Day a campuswide holiday. His hope is that if Election Day is a campus holiday, students won’t have to choose between school, earning income or voting.

that all campuses had polling places, according to Goodman.

“Back when I started at UA in 2010, I was an intern with the Arizona Student Association, and I passed a bill that actually started setting a foundation for young people, particularly students at the universities, to have more protections to vote on Election Day,” Hernandez said.

Goodman explained that we have gotten better at making voting easier but that there is still a long way to go.

“We need to shift the incentives away from giving people the option to earn

money or go to class versus voting by giving people the day off, so they don’t have to choose,” Goodman said.

Goodman doesn’t have a specific number of signatures he is aiming for on the petition, he just wants his message to get out there.

“We are really just trying to get the university’s attention to address this issue and we want to make students realize that their voices matter,” Goodman said.

The petition is still in the early stages, but they are planning on reaching out to the Associated Students of

the University of Arizona to pass a resolution for them to endorse the movement. Goodman’s goal is to get more signatures to have the receipts to show the university that they have support from the community.

“I just want to really empower people and show them that our voice matters as much as anyone else’s and that we can actually create change in a positive way and address the issues that are important to young people if we all go out and vote,” Goodman said.

8 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

The University of Arizona College of Engineering, Eller College of Management, and College of Science, and the Thomas R. Brown Foundations are pleased to announce the 2020 Thomas R. Brown Faculty and Scholars

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS! The Thomas R. Brown Endowed Chairs Dr. Jennifer Barton Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Hsinchun Chen

Management Information Systems

Dr. Joaquin Ruiz

Director of Biosphere 2

Dr. Joellen Russell Integrative Science

College of Engineering Scholars Savannah Rae Armstrong Susan Burrell Sebastian David Diaz Reganne Layne Fornstrom Thomas Allen Gansheimer Sarah Alison Gilliam Monique Martinez Kevin Michael May Kelly Flynn McCarthy Alexander Nikolas Moore

Tom Thomas Murickan Nisha Anjali Rajakrishna Maria Guadalupe Ramon Isiaha A. Rodriguez Venesa A. Romero Alek Sepulveda Rebecca Marie Shanks Adam Emmanuel Skora Nathan Freeman Thomas Paxton T. Tomooka

McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship Scholars Nicolas Aleman Jose Borquez Giselle Durazo

Faith Ferganchick Brianna Johnson Rion Melton

The Thomas R. Brown Foundations are dedicated to excellence in scholarship where business, science and technology meet.

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

The war on critical race theory silences minority experiences

BY GERALDINE ESPINOSA @GEspinosaWrites

O

n Sept. 4, Russell Vought, director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, issued a memo to federal agencies telling them to “cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars” for trainings that are centralized around critical race theory — also referred to as CRT. The memo implies that trainings held for federal employees that are based on CRT are teaching “divisive, un-American propaganda.”

Nineteen days later, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits federal contractors from providing trainings that have anything to do with CRT. The executive order specifically listed these topics as being off limits for employee training: “One sex or race is superior.”

“An individual is inherently consciously or unconsciously racist or sexist by virtue of their race or sex.”

“A person should be discriminated against because of their race or sex.”

“That a person’s moral character is determined by their race or sex.”

“A person’s race or sex makes them responsible for past transgressions of that race or sex.”

“That a person would feel ‘discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.’”

“Hard work ethic is inherently racist or sexist.”

In doing this, Trump and his administration have declared war on critical race theory. CRT was developed in the early 1970s post-civil rights era, when scholars and activists were becoming aware that new approaches to take on racism were necessary to, according to “Critical Race Theory: Past, Present, and Future” by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, “cope with a less sympathetic public and the more nuanced forms of racism that were developing.” The nuanced forms of racism that CRT scholars describe is the kind of racism that the Trump administration perpetuates.

Trump’s attack on CRT is not surprising. In the light of the upcoming election, Trump is enacting policy that is appealing to his voter base and is treading carefully as to not alienate them, even if it means going to extremes like not condemning white supremacy. This tactic did not emerge from the Trump campaign for the 2020 election. In fact, it has been a tool his entire political career. Trump has relied on attention grabbing statements that are the definition of racially divisive, whether it was calling Mexicans rapists and criminals,

banning travelers from predominantly Muslim countries from coming to the U.S. or referring to Africa and Haiti as “shithole” regions, Trump has been the vessel of racial divide in this country for the past four years.

CRT recognizes that systemic racism is part of the American life and challenges the beliefs that allow it to flourish. Teaching such subject matter is not divisive; it is critical to be aware of the experiences of those around us as well as the history that has brought us to this point in time.

CRT is also vital to those who don’t experience racism, as it makes them aware of how they may be unknowingly perpetuating racism, especially unconsciously, in their everyday lives. CRT is an academic essential, and to make a conspiracy of it through this executive order is insulting. To equate CRT to “divisive, un-American propaganda” is completely undermining the movement that CRT was built on and those who built it.

In light of the reckoning of racial injustice in America, this decision made by Trump is yet another means of injustice toward marginalized groups in this country. Eliminating diversity trainings that are based on CRT is a means of erasure to those who experience racial violence and discrimination in this country. Trump’s administration is making it clear on their complicity with racial disparities in this country by purposefully getting rid of these trainings. Not only are they being complicit, but by no longer including CRT in these trainings, they are further enabling violence against marginalized groups.

Limiting this type of education from federal agencies is undoing the work that has been made to get this type of theory included in diversity trainings in the first place.

CRT as a component to employee trainings for federal agencies was implemented with the purpose of bringing attention to how race plays a role in our everyday lives, whether you are BIPOC or white. These CRT training were an attempt at equity for those belonging to marginalized groups, especially in the federal system that is deeply entrenched in old beliefs of white superiority that it continues to perpetuate today. CRT is not divisive or un-American, it is the exact opposite. In the land where we believe that everyone is created equal, CRT helps us bridge the gaps that were created long ago to hold this fact true. With this legislation, President Donald Trump sent a clear message on how he feels about racial disparities in America. I wonder how else he will send these types of messages before election day Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.

— Geraldine is a junior and is majoring in journalism. She likes to bake and read in her free time

The Daily Wildcat • 9

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | PROP BREAKDOWN

PROPS

FROM PAGE 6

Proposition 208 a Strong Economy is mounting the opposition effort against Proposition 208. The group warns that there is no accountability for the spending of the funds (no guarantee that they will be used inside the classroom), the tax imposed by the proposition would result in a massive tax increase for small businesses and raise the top marginal income tax rate by 77.7% for those subjected to the proposed tax.

For more opinions in favor of Proposition 208, check out the following articles: • “2020 Star Opinion: ‘Yes’ on Prop. 208 ‘Invest in Ed’” by the Arizona Daily Star Editorial Board • “Notes from the Chair | Vote YES on Prop 208” by Pima County Democrats For more opinions against Proposition 208, check out the following article: • “Jonathan Hoffman: Why Prop.

208 ‘Invest in Ed’ is a bad idea”

by Jonathan Hoffman for the Arizona Daily Star.

WE’RE OPEN AGAIN! The Popular Local Bar & Restaurant is back!

20% OFF

SCAN ME!

Proposition 208 would increase funding for public education for the entire state of Arizona by imposing a 3.5% tax surcharge on 1) taxable income over $250,000 for taxpayers who are single or married but filing separately and 2) taxable income over $500,000 for married persons filing jointly or heads of households.

A “Yes” vote for the proposition would direct the additional revenue to 1) hiring and increasing salaries for teachers and other nonadministrative support personnel, 2) career training and higher education pathway programs for high school students and 3) the Arizona Teachers Academy.

Invest in Education is the leading advocacy group in support of Proposition 208. They said the proposition will restore millions of dollars to K-12 education “to solve the teacher-shortage crisis, lower class sizes, hire aides and counselors, and expand career and technical education” by implementing the tax surcharge on Arizona’s top one percent of earners.

Arizonans for Great Schools and

Neighborhood spot delivers creative cocktails & delicious bites

Proposition 486 Prop 486 for South Tucson proposes an alternative expenditure limit for the next four years; if passed, this would replace the expenditure limit set by the state. The city would determine the limit yearly after public hearings.

Funky Monk Tucson | 520.777.5560 | funkymonktucson.com 350 E Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701 Not to be combined with any other offer, discount, happy hour or promotion.

One time use only. Limit one per table & per visit. Dine in only. Valid through November 30, 2020.

10 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

Just vote vs. vote blue Should people vote for who they want to lead, or should they stay home if that person is President Donald J. Trump? Daily Wildcat Editor-in-Chief Sam Burdette and Managing Editor Pascal Albright debate how U.S. citizens should be using their vote this election season

I don’t care who, just vote I don’t care who (you

BY SAM BURDETTE @SuperSafetySam

I

just got my early ballot in the mail.

Now, it lies on my dresser awaiting the moment I tear it open and do my part in creating the representative government the U.S. was designed to have. That is the main point, isn’t it?

For our government to represent us as a population of competent adults?

This is why I take issue with so many today telling people, “If you aren’t voting Biden, don’t vote at all.” I’m just as much a fan of Trump as the next broke 20-year-old college student, but I strongly believe you should – and, more than ever, need to – vote for who you think is best fit to lead this country in the direction you want it to go. As much as it may be controversial to say it, if that means you vote to reelect Donald Trump, so be it.

I truly believe the problem isn’t who you vote for, it’s whether you choose to vote or not. If all of us, and I mean every one of us 18- to 24-year-olds, got out there and voted, we could have quite the impact on this country. Our voice as the future of the United States would be represented fairly. If that means Trump gets reelected — well, then that was, democratically, our decision as a country. We as a group of people would have decided that was the direction we wanted our country to go in. Sure, many of us would be unhappy, outraged even, but at least it would have been fair.

I already hear the counterarguments: “The Electoral College system is

flawed, Trump was elected after losing the popular vote, the Russians are meddling in our elections – you call that fair?” No, frankly, I don’t. And that sucks. But that doesn’t mean a greater voter turnout won’t make it fairer.

According to Pew Research Center, 61.4% of the U.S. adult population voted in the 2016 election. That sounds like a lot, but that means 38.6% of the population didn’t vote. That’s over a third of us. That’s over 74 million of us.

All this to say: I really don’t care what you vote for. I don’t care if you vote for or against Prop 207. I don’t care if you’re on team Martha McSally or team Mark Kelly. I don’t even care if you support Biden or Trump.

But – no matter who or what you’re planning on voting for – I do care that you vote.

— Sam Burdette is a journalism student and the current editor-in-chief for the Daily Wildcat

are), you vote blue!

BY PASCAL ALBRIGHT @pascalloves

M

y ballot also arrived at my home sometime last week, however mine is already filled in with the right candidate to get us out of this mess. While I truly believe in a democratic system where the people in power are elected by the people, for the people, we can kind of agree the systems/ideals of the past clearly need updating, including when it comes to elections and our political system.

The U.S. political system is very messy when it comes to voting and elections and with time so much has changed.

Remember, there were times where human beings that walked the same streets couldn’t vote for the people in power to represent them. Now, in 2020, practicing that right to vote is more important than ever.

Now, while voting in general for the people you personally believe in to best represent you is the main idea in this and all elections, I have something else to say. In the 2020 presidential election, we the people cannot vote Donald J. Trump in for another four years. Joe Biden is the only candidate to take seriously this election and the one worth voting for.

This was made clear by the first presidential debate held Tuesday, Sept.

29, where Biden used this as a platform to address the American people, whereas

Trump practiced his “right” to bash his opponent and dismiss questions and critical feedback from the people.

The debate is a perfect example of how messy and much of a joke the last four years have been, from banning people from entering this country because of religious reasons to locking children in cages, and being responsible for the pandemic mess we are in right now. If it’s not clear by now that this country is a mess and we need cleaning up, I don’t know what it will take.

According to The Washington Post, Pres. Trump has made more than 20,000 false or misleading claims and has run this country like one of his failing businesses, on lies and misdirection. It is time to get rid of the clowns in office, and while Joe Biden doesn’t have the cleanest closet, he is the one and only candidate worth the vote!

Vote blue to get rid of the racist foolishness that runs our country. Why vote for someone that will only make things worse as seen by the last four years of lies and deceit? Vote Biden in or don’t vote at all!

— Pascal Albright is a journalism student and the current managing editor for the Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat • 11

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

Everything you need to know about mail-in ballots and how to make your vote count

BY LAUREN BORELLI @DailyWildcat

E

lection day is quickly approaching for what will surely be an unprecedented year. Voting methods have become highly controversial considering the lasting pandemic, with many worrying about exposure to COVID-19 when heading to the polls. The current solution is through mail-in ballots, though it has caused mass amounts of controversy to circulate through the news, social media and every other point of contact with the outside world. Amidst the chaos and confusion, it can be very difficult to know where to start on understanding the process. Here is everything you need to know about mail-in ballots, why that matters and how to make your vote count.

Public opinion on voting via mail varies across the country, and states have independently decided which course of action they feel is best.

Out of this, three main methods regarding how citizens can vote using absentee ballots have developed.

The first method of modified voting will be

conducted entirely through mail. According to The New York Times, nine states plus Washington D.C. will be automatically sending ballots via mail to all registered voters within the state, while some states will require a request for an absentee ballot.

The second method voters can expect to see is no-excuse needed absentee voting. According to the same article, so far, up to 35 states will be allowing registered voters to cast votes through an absentee ballot without the requirement of providing a qualifying excuse.

Within some of these states, absentee ballots will be sent to registered voters automatically.

The third method, only consisting of five states, will require a valid excuse for an absentee ballot. Unlike other states, these states will not allow the risk of contracting COVID-19 as an acceptable excuse. Voters in these districts will be required to vote in person unless under “extenuating circumstances,” which cannot include the coronavirus.

Mail-in voting is in the spotlight of most news and Donald Trump’s tirades today as if it has never been used before this election. This is obviously not the case. The first instance of absentee voting dates back as far as the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln made the

decision to send ballots to the soldiers while they were in combat, claiming that there is no free government without elections. During World War II, the Soldier Voting Act of 1942 was passed and widely promoted to ensure all American soldiers had the opportunity to vote.

Since then, many more acts like this were passed through the years to make it easier for men and women to cast their votes.

The method of voting through the mail has since become widely accepted, and in 2000, Oregon switched to voting entirely through the mail. Washington, Colorado, Utah and Hawaii have since modified voting to entirely through the mail, even before the outbreak of COVID-19.

A large concern about such large quantities of mail-in ballots is the unintentional disenfranchisement of voters. If the ballot is not mailed in time or has any error in its completion, the vote will not be counted. To make sure your vote counts, learn your local voting requirements and deadlines and be sure to register and mail in ballots as early as possible. When you do receive your ballot, be sure to pay careful attention and follow all directions exactly. Do not let your vote be discarded because of a silly signature error.

There have been many controversial comments made regarding mail-in ballots. In looking at our own history, it is easy to see that mail-in ballots have run effectively for decades, with no statistically significant proof of voter fraud ever happening. Providing an option for all Americans to vote while maintaining their safety is crucial to the principles in which our country was based on. The aggressive rhetoric circulating through the news about the invalidity of mailin ballots is nothing more than passionate language aimed at gaining votes from people who easily fall victim to conspiracy theories.

Look at the facts, and know that your vote will count and your voice will be heard in whatever method of voting is best for you.

— Lauren is a political science major from Baltimore

USPS MAIL OPTIONS: Blue USPS free-standing mailbox on Park Ave, 615 N. Park Ave., in front of the Global Center.

Blue USPS free-standing mailbox at the northeast corner of Euclid and University, 825 E. University Blvd., next to the CVS Pharmacy.

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | ARIZONA

ARIZONA FROM PAGE 4

that end up voting.

Another big election that will affect Arizona’s ‘swing’ and solidify a purple status, is that of the Senate election. The race between incumbent Senator Martha McSally and Captain Mark Kelly has gained national attention and is one multiple battleground Senate races that will decide the future of the US Senate, along with Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky. As election day gets closer, Kelly continues to poll significantly higher than McSally, almost guaranteeing a win for him in November.

“Arizona is one of the states that is a battleground state — both parties think they have a chance of winning the presidential election. Also, the Arizona

senate seat is a must win for both parties,” Norrander said. “One indicator of the importance of Arizona to both the presidential and senate races is the amount of money that is being spent in the states by all of the candidates.”

While battleground races occur every election, one of the most glaring reasons behind the Republicans hard fight to keep control of the house lies in the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett. Any new Democratic senators will be one more vote against the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, with only four more votes needed.

No one will know for sure which way Arizona will go until results are in, but one thing is for sure: the importance of Arizonans voting is more critical than ever, no matter where you stand.

MEGAN EWING | THE DAILY WILDCAT

A PROUD BIDEN/HARRIS voter poses with a yard sign that he received at the campaign event on Friday, Oct. 9, in Tucson.

12 • The Daily Wildcat 12 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | BALLOT BREAKDOWN

Your Arizona ballot, expl Federal Elections (the big ones) U.S. President: There are four candidates qualified to be on enough state ballots to win a majority in the Electoral College.

These candidates include President Donald Trump of the Republican party, former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic party, Jo Jorgensen of the Libertarian party and Howie Hawkins of the Green Party. There are also multiple candidates that have qualified to appear on five or more state ballots, including Kanye West.

Joe Biden is the Democratic party nominee for the 2020 presidential race. | Photo by Marc Nozell/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

State Senator:

U.S. Senator: U.S. senators are elected by their home state to serve in the Senate for six years. Two senators are appointed for each state. Special elections are being held for Arizona’s Martha McSally, who was appointed

by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2018.

On the Pima County ballot: Senator Martha McSally (R) and Mark Kelly (D).

U.S. Representative: The U.S. has 435 congressional districts that each have an elected representative that serves for their district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

There are nine congressional districts in Arizona that have

Elections are approaching quickly and every day voting is all you seem to hear about. To help you out, we’re diving into what your 2020 ballot will look like before you hit the polls.

When you receive your ballot, it may be overwhelming. Many

State Elections President Donald Trump makes a speech during a pre-election rally on Oct. 29, 2016. | Rebecca Noble

U.S. Then-Congresswoman Martha McSally in Tempe, Arizona. | Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

BY MAGGIE ROCKWELL @magzrock

The State Senate, or the “upper house” of the state legislature, serves as the smaller governing body that makes up the state legislature, the legislative branch of state government. Arizona is one of the 12 states where state senators only serve a two-year term, meaning all seats are up for reelection every two years, including this year. There are 30 districts in Arizona that elect a state senator. No republicans are on the ballot.

On the Pima County ballot — District 3: Sally Ann Gonzales (D) On the Pima County ballot — District 9 (off-campus, around the Catalina Foothills): Victoria Steele (D)

State Representative:

The State House of Representativ or the “lower chamber” of the state legislature, serves as the larger body of the state legislative branch. Arizon state representatives serve two year terms, meaning all 60 seats in the Arizona House of Representatives are up for election in 2020. Arizona is one of 12 states that vote two

State Executive:

The state executive office include the following positions: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney genera secretary of state and down-ballot.

Down-ballot executive offices includ corporate commissioners, which is o the Pima ballot. Depending on wher you are from, the state executive sea

Local Elections

Mark Kelly speaking with supporters in Phoenix, Arizona. | Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

elected representatives in the House. All 435 seats are up for election in Congress on the 2020 ballot.

On the Pima County ballot — District 3 (the University of Arizona’s district): Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D) and Daniel Wood (R).

names and positions will come up on the ballot that you may no have heard of or don’t seem to matter to you. For most student ballots will probably differ a lot from each other since many students will be voting for their own local elections.

Students out of state or distric will see names completely

U.S. Congressman Raúl Grijalva speaking with attendees in Phoenix, Arizona. Courtesy Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Local Elections will vary greatly by state, city and county. Municipal or local, elections range from any city position to county positions, like treasurers, sheriffs and city council. Along with local elections, many counties and cities will be holding school board elections.

On the Pima County ballot: Pima County board of supervisors Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, county attorney, sheriff, county recorder, county treasurer, county assessor, county school superintendent, justice of the peace precincts 2, 4, 6, 9 and 10, constable precincts 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, Pima Community College district member, superior court judges and the governing board for Tucson Unified School District.

Judicia

All justices/judges up for retention, whic a confirmation by citi of the gubernatorial appointment of a judg or justice.

Justices of the Sta Supreme Court:

Justices of the state supreme court are selected in whichever way the state has decided in their state’ constitution. Arizona

13 • The Daily Wildcat Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | BALLOT BREAKDOWN

lained

ot s,

ct

ves,

y na

es

al,

des on ere ats

different in terms of positions for local offices. It is best to do your own research on the candidates for these offices if you are not a resident of Tucson and/or Arizona. If you have an early, mail-in or absentee ballot, you can also look at the voter guide that comes with that. representatives from each district.

Depending on your state, the seats up for election may differ.

On the Pima county ballot — District 3: Andrés Cano (D) and Alma Hernandez (D) On the Pima County ballot — District 9: Randall Friese (D), Pamela Powers Hannley (D) and Brendan Lyons (R) up for election will differ, so do your research if you will be voting in a different state.

On the Pima County ballot — three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission: Lea Marquez Peterson (R), William Mundell (D), Shea Stanfield (D), Anna Tovar (D), James O’Connor (R) and Eric Sloan (R)

al Elections

are ch is izens

ge

ate

e

r

’s a

has seven justices on its supreme court that are each appointed by the governor. The justices appointed are up for retention after two years.

There are three Arizona Supreme Court Justices up for retention on the 2020 ballot including Chief Justice Robert Brutinel (R), Justice Andrew Gould (R) and Justice John Lopez IV (R).

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020 The Daily Wildcat • 13

Propositions

Propositions will vary by state. Please research your state’s propositions if you live outside of Arizona.

Prop 207: Proposition 207 would legalize the possession, use and cultivation by adults 21-years-old and older of marijuana. It would also amend criminal penalties for marijuana, ban smoking it in public, impose a 16% excise tax on marijuana sales to fund public programs and allow expungement of marijuana offenses.

Prop 208: Proposition 208 would impose a 3.5% income tax surcharge on single persons making an annual income higher than $250,000 or married persons making an annual income higher than $500,000 to increase funding for public education.

Prop 486 (City of South Tucson): Proposition 486 proposes an alternative expenditure limit that would replace the stateimposed one for the next four years, to be assessed yearly. An expenditure limit is put into place to restrain governmental budget growth on tax or spending side.

Judges of the Intermediate Appellate Courts:

Judges for the Arizona Court of Appeals Division 1 (Maricopa County) and Division 2 (Pima County) are selected by the state’s governor. They are up for retention after a certain period of time to fully serve a six-year term.

On the Pima County ballot: Sean Brearcliffe.

Election 2020: A breakdown of District 3 candidates Beyond electing the next president on Nov. 3, multiple state and local elections are also being held. Here’s a breakdown of candidates for the University of Arizona’s legislative district, District 3

BY IAN TISDALE @iantisdl

U.S., Ariz. District 3 Candidates for U.S. House Representative Raúl Grijalva is District 3’s Democratic incumbent and has been serving as a representative to the state since 2002. Grijalva is running for his 12th consecutive term in Congress this year.

Grijalva is a known progressive force in the House; he strongly advocated for the environment, in helping pass a bill eliminating spending caps on oil companies for environmental disasters. He is pro-choice, a strong defender of the DREAM act in immigration, for the implementation of Affordable Health Care Act in healthcare, a pro-gun-control advocate through prohibition of assault weapons and a strong advocate for Native American rights.

Daniel Wood is the Republican candidate for this year’s District 3 Representative seat. Wood is originally from Virginia, and is a Marine Corps veteran, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wood has worked in law enforcement and is now employed as a private Executive Protection Agent.

Wood is against the open border policy, citing economic detriments and security threats created by laxed migration policy. Wood is for privatized healthcare coverage, is pro-life in terms of abortion, and is a strong defender of Second Amendment rights federally and in Arizona.

Ariz. Legislative District 3 Candidates for State Senate Sally Ann Gonzales (D) is the lone Arizona Senate candidate running for District 3, running for re-election to the Senate after a 2018 Senate seat

victory. She served on the Arizona House of Representatives since 2011 and has served on previous positions on the TUSD Board, and on the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council.

In the Senate and House, Gonzales advocated for Native American rights by co-signing bills honoring Native American Veterans and making a Native American state holiday. She has voted to repeal the death penalty in the state, and is a strong advocate for drug policy reform, co-signing bills on medical marijuana regulation and drug addiction treatment. Gonzales is also a progressive in terms of immigration stances and is prochoice in abortion.

District 3 Candidates for State House Disclaimer: Both Cano and Hernandez ran uncontested for the two House seats in this year’s election.

Representative Andrés Cano (D) is one of the youngest candidates in this year’s election. The 28-year-old is running for reelection to one of District 3’s two seats after winning a state House seat last election in 2018, alongside Democrat running mate Alma Hernandez. Cano served on the Natural Resources Committee and the Ways and Means Committee in the state House.

Cano strives for a living wage, improving public road infrastructure, expanding Medicaid, increasing teacher pay and opposes privatization of Arizona’s public lands.

Like Cano, Representative Alma Hernandez (D) also won appointment to the House in 2018.

Hernandez was born in South Tucson. Hernandez has experience as a health professional and specializes in health policy, with both undergraduate and graduate

degrees from the University of Arizona.

Hernandez serves on the Federal Relations Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee in the House, and most recently has led a statewide effort to defend the Affordable Care Act, through the Arizonans United for Healthcare campaign.

Pima County Board of Supervisors, District 3 Sharon Bronson (D) is running for re-election to the Board of Supervisors for her seventh term, serving as a Supervisor since 1996.

In her tenure on the Board, Bronson helped implement Pima County’s Sonora Desert Conservation Plan, to preserve desert land in Pima County. Bronson advocates for criminal justice reform and is a strong advocate for the environment in southern Arizona.

Bronson formerly served as President of the Arizona County Supervisor’s Association, and President of the U.S./Mexico Border Counties Coalition. She currently is in the Chairman’s Circle for Sun Corridor Inc. Gabby Saucedo Mercer (R), a career linguist, is the Republican candidate for the position.

Mercer has political experience in campaigning, as she was the Republican frontrunner for the District 3 U.S. House of Representatives seat in 2012, running, and ultimately losing to long standing Representative Raúl Grijalva.

Mercer called for updated road infrastructure, lower tax rates, sustainable economic growth and denounces recent building projects undertaken by Pima County under Bronson’s previous terms.

14 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

NEXT LEVEL LIVING

•

Private Bed & Bath for each Resident

•

Fully Furnished Remodeled Apartments

•

Only Residence Providing 1 Gig Internet Speed/Bed

•

Full-time Sanitizing Specialist on Staff

•

Spacious & Reliable Shuttle Service

•

Resort Style Pool & Spa with Gas Grills

Sign your lease online today: seasonstucson.com

The Daily Wildcat • 15

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | HEALTH CARE

Taking a deeper dive into the presidential candidates’ healthcare policies

BY AMIT SYAL @ASyal21

The 2020 presidential election is less than three weeks away, and amidst a pandemic that has taken over 215,000 lives across the country, the future of the U.S. healthcare system is at the forefront of many voters’ minds.

Current President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have different beliefs when it comes to the healthcare landscape of the U.S., to say the least. Let’s take a deeper look at the healthcare policies of the two presidential candidates through the lenses of the Affordable Care Act, reproductive rights and Medicare/Medicaid.

Affordable Care Act:

On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act was passed. This law, signed by former President Barack Obama, widely expanded health coverage across the country, brought new attention to preventive medicine and reduced discrimination of peoples with preexisting health conditions.

ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLY CLINE | THE DAILY WILDCAT

TRUMP: The current president kicked off

his presidency in 2016 with a promise to end the law “on day one,” saying that it unfairly requires people and large companies to buy insurance or pay a heavy fine. Trump believes the ACA is unconstitutional and supports the lawsuit that would strike down the bill.

BIDEN: A crucial part of Biden’s healthcare plan is to defend the ACA from congressional and legal challenges, including its potential strike by the Supreme Court. If elected, Biden would let the ACA stay in place.

According to Biden’s website, “because of Obamacare, over 100 million people no longer have to worry that an insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher premiums just because they have a pre-existing condition – whether cancer or diabetes or heart disease or a mental health challenge.”

Reproductive rights: TRUMP: He has sought to expand a federal ban on funding for clinics that provide abortions, and has moved to cut funding for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

This month, a federal court struck down those restrictions, setting up a potential ruling from the Supreme Court. Earlier this year, the Trump administration asked Planned Parenthood affiliates around the U.S. to return millions of dollars in loans from the federal government’s COVID-19 relief package.

In addition, the president repealed President Obama’s anti-discrimination provisions for LGBTQ+ patients and for those who have terminated a pregnancy.

BIDEN: Despite a shift in his stance from a few decades ago, the Democratic nominee supports funding for clinics that provide abortions. Biden has made it clear that he will restore federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other reproductive care providers.

Biden has also vowed to put back former President Obama’s anti-discrimination provisions for LGBTQ+ patients and for those who have terminated a pregnancy.

Medicare/Medicaid:

Medicare is a federal program that

subsidizes healthcare services for anyone over 65, younger people with specific eligibility criteria and people with certain diseases.

On the other hand, Medicaid is a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. The program also may offer other benefits, including nursing home care and personal care services.

TRUMP: In August, Trump signed an executive order unilaterally cutting payroll taxes, a primary funding vehicle for Medicare and Social Security. The sitting president wants to expand the use of private Medicare insurers and has vowed to keep the payroll tax cut permanent.

Similarly, Trump has proposed several budgets to Congress requesting significant cuts to Medicaid as well. The administration has also supported new work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries.

BIDEN: A crucial aspect of the former vice president’s plan is to extend Medicare coverage to adults ages 60 to 64, nearly an

additional 20 million people. Furthermore, Biden will repeal the existing law explicitly barring Medicare from negotiating lower prices with drug corporations, according to his website.

A crucial aspect of the former vice president’s plan is to expand Medicaid coverage. According to Biden’s website, “governors and state legislatures in 14 states have refused to take up the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid eligibility, denying access to Medicaid for an estimated 4.9 million adults.”

His plan focuses on offering premiumfree access to the public option to those 4.9 million individuals and “making sure their public option covers the full scope of Medicaid benefits.”

Clearly, the two presidential candidates have widely differing beliefs when it comes to the U.S. healthcare landscape. Amidst a pandemic with no end in sight, the future of the country’s healthcare system will be paramount for which direction the U.S. heads in next year.

16 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | CLEAN ELECTIONS

Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission’s voter education director talks voting The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is a non-partisan commission that helps implement the Citizens Clean Elections Act, which was passed in 1998, according to the CCEC’s website

BY ELVIA VERDUGO @ElviaVerdugo

The Citizens Clean Elections Act’s purpose is to “restore citizen participation and confidence in our political system, improve the integrity of Arizona State government and promote freedom of speech under the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions,” according to its website.

The Daily Wildcat spoke to Gina Roberts, the CCEC’s voter education director, about the importance of clean elections, voter education and voting in this year’s election.

Daily Wildcat: What is the Citizens Clean Elections Commission?

Gina Roberts: We are a state government agency. We were created by voters in 1998 through a citizens’ initiative. A component of the Clean Elections Act is about voter education.

That’s really a priority for the current commission. It’s a five-member commission and it’s non-partisan.

All of the work that we put out is completely non-partisan and unbiased and the goal is to educate every Arizonan in the state about elections and that includes the logistics. So how to actually get your ballot, how to register to vote, more about the process of voting, as well as learning about the candidates and the issues on the ballot.

DW: What are clean elections?

GR: I think clean elections means something different to every person.

The term really comes from another

portion of the Clean Elections Act, which is to provide clean funding.

Clean funding for campaigns and for candidates that are running for statewide and legislative offices. So it is an optional financing program that candidates can elect into. If they do that, what they’re doing is they’re agreeing to forgo any special interest money, and they abide by certain spending limits and contribution limits and what they do. If they qualify, they have to go through a qualification process. If enough voters in their districts show support for that candidate, then they get their campaign funded through the clean elections funds. The thought process behind that was that campaigns will be cleaner and that voters know where the money’s coming from. The history behind that is to help root out corruption in politics and therefore helping to make the elections cleaner so that voters can focus on voting and candidates can focus more on the issues and not so much about the money and politics.

optional public financing component, but it also includes measures for campaign finance enforcement so that the commission can ensure that those public funds are being spent in accordance with our rules and laws.

And all of that helps to focus more on the issues. Then, they included this aspect of voter education. I think when you look at the Clean Elections Act as a whole, the purpose there is really to allow voters to really focus on the merits of the candidates, the issues, their positions, what they stand for.

It’s all working for the benefit of voters so that they can participate in the elections. They can have confidence in their vote. I think when we look at the Clean Elections Commission, as it is today, you’ll see our commissioners have a high focus on early education.

That is one of the most important parts of the Clean Elections Act, so we can increase participation in the political process, and that’s really what it comes down to. That’s the heart of clean elections — the increased participation in the political process.

DW: Why are clean elections so important?

GR: I think the Clean Elections Act in Arizona is very unique. There’s only a handful of other states in the country that have a clean elections program, and those that do, they are mostly focused on the financing side. When Arizona voters passed the Clean Elections Act, I actually think that they were quite brilliant because the act includes, of course, the

DW: What type of voter education programs do you offer to the community?

GR: The commission adopts an annual voter education plan every year, and it’s very comprehensive. We reach every voter and every voter who has a different circumstance. If it’s somebody who’s voting in Pima County, in Tucson, for example, they could have a very different voting experience as compared to somebody who is, you

know, in Coconino County. What the commission does is they make sure that voters know everything they need to know to actually participate in the election. We educate voters on the voter registration process.

We educate voters on how to get their ballot and the options that are available to them. Whether that is getting an early ballot mailed to you, going to vote early in person or voting on Election Day, we let voters know these are all of the choices that you have to participate in elections, so you can choose what works best for you. Then we also educate, too, on the transparency, so how to confirm your ballot was counted. We have to talk about basically all of the logistics to be able to actually participate in the elections. That’s what our voter education campaign covers for the year. The commission sends out a voter education guide to every single household with a registered voter in the state. You can get voter education at your doorstep. You don’t have to go looking for it, we’re sending it directly to you.

DW: How is the commission handling the spread of misinformation during this election season?

GR: The spread of misinformation is something that Arizona election officials have been concerned about and we’ve been really planning for the election and how to tackle that. And one of the things that the commission does is we have a team

CLEAN ELECTIONS, 17

The Daily Wildcat • 17

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

America, you have the chance to vote out a dictator — don’t squander it

BY AIDAN RHODES @DailyWildcat

P

resident Donald Trump is a dictator. He isn’t a very good dictator since he’s trying to pull it off in a remarkably resilient democracy, but he is a dictator nonetheless.

He embodies nearly all of the traits of a dictator outlined by Psychology Today. He is a nepotistic, corrupt, manipulative ideologue who viciously targets his political rivals and uses force to quash protest.

Trump rose to power on the back of xenophobic populism and since he was elected without a popular majority of support (something almost universally true of dictators) and because he has obsessively curated an image of power, he demands a cult of loyalty among those he surrounds himself with. They are advisers in title only, and dozens have been fired merely for disagreeing with him.

Trump is also guilty of a truly staggering amount of dubious at best, but more likely criminal, dealings by way of his personal properties detailed by The New York Times.

He has enriched his family and his businesses directly by way of his actions as president and he will have access to the money upon leaving office.

He has relished in descriptions of killing U.S. enemies abroad. He has degraded our closest and most reliable allies and the international organizations central to improving international relations. He has failed to affirm NATO’s Article 5 — the commitment by NATO allies to come to each other’s defense in the event one is attacked.

He has done this while embracing and praising dictators and pushing for closer ties with some of the most prolific human rights abusers in the world. He has shown enormous adoration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He failed to confront Russia about putting bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and he has shared classified intelligence from allies with Russian officials. He has routinely undermined efforts by his own intelligence services to raise alarm about Russian interference in American elections, presumably because their efforts are aimed at securing his victory.

And then there is the pandemic. Trump’s pathological need to appear strong and his insecurity when surrounded by people smarter than him has been the driving force behind a response that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. He has been incapable of acting with empathy or even a hint of reason.

He has acted directly in opposition to the interest of the people he was sworn to protect.

And finally (not really, but for the purposes of this article), Trump has implied that he will remain president for more than two terms.

This directly violates the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution and gains Trump acceptance to a club almost exclusively containing dictators that run sham democracies.

He doesn’t think the rules apply to him.

None of this is new information and none of it is surprising after the campaign Donald Trump created in 2016. What all of it points to is that Trump is an authoritarian, a dictator. The nation has only been spared from his dictatorship by his spectacular incompetence and by a democracy that has been, despite an abundance of flaws and failings, remarkably resilient in the face of an autocrat. The consequences of Trump’s

Supreme Court picks won’t be fully realized for decades and over 200,000 dead Americans will never be forgotten, but despite relentless attacks on every part of the U.S. government, the president is still just a president and we are still a democracy.

None of this is new information, and none of it is surprising after the campaign Donald Trump ran in 2016. What all of it points to is that Trump is an authoritarian, and a dictator. The nation has only been spared from his dictatorship by his spectacular incompetence and by a democracy that has been, despite an abundance of flaws and failings, remarkably persistent in resisting Trump’s worst inclinations. Trump’s Supreme Court picks will continue to affect the country for decades, and 200,000 dead Americans will never be forgotten; but despite relentless attacks on every part of the U.S. government, the president is still just a president, and we are still a democracy.

He has done a tremendous amount of damage, but the country is still a far cry from what it would look like if Trump got his way. Muslims are allowed, if not altogether welcome; there is yet to be martial law and there is still an election in November.

The United States of America isn’t the United States of Trump. It is owed to a court system that upholds the Constitution, leaders that use federalism to its fullest extent, strong, smart and honest administration officials who refuse to serve a tyrant, courageous journalists who expose the Trump administration for its misdeeds and lies and Trump’s incompetence. It is also owed to the people. The people who stood in the face of bigotry, hate and evil. The people who marched for the climate, for women, for refugees, for children in cages, for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, for America. The election that is still

happening is the best chance we get to make sure we stay the USA. On Nov. 3, we owe it to all the people listed above who aren’t here to vote with us to vote for Joe Biden. We owe it to all of the Black people killed at the hands of police. We owe it to all the good cops who see the institutionalized racism in our criminal justice system as wrong. We owe it to all of the advisers and ambassadors and secretaries who never gave up the fight, no matter how hard Trump and his cronies pushed back, and continued to speak out even when they were fired. We owe it to the protesters who were killed in Charlottesville in 2017 and Kenosha this August. We owe it to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Lewis: two titans of democracy who fought until their dying breaths for the equal protection of all Americans. We owe it to everyone who has ever laid down their life defending this country and the promise of democracy it endeavors to represent. We owe it to allies abroad that have stood by us through enormous hardship. We owe it to all of the people who live under tyrants and dream of someday coming to a nation where they will have rights. We owe it to everyone who has died speaking out against a tyrant. We owe it to everyone alive on Earth right now, because climate change doesn’t care where you live or who you are.

We owe it to ourselves. We are a diverse nation full of remarkable people with a revolutionary democracy. The rhetoric that so often surrounds our democracy makes it out to be eternal and invincible. It isn’t. It is only as strong as the people that vote.

Here’s what you need to know.” So we have a very robust education campaign where we’re communicating with voters across the state about all of these issues that are really in both national and local discourse right now.

more in our lives than people actually realize.

Having an understanding of what these elected positions are responsible for I think can really help people understand how voting in that election can impact them. It’s just so important to have your voice heard, even if you believe that it doesn’t count or if you have concerns about that. I can assure you every eligible vote that is cast in the state of Arizona absolutely does count.

— Aidan Rhodes is a journalism major from Flagstaff, Arizona. He is a passionate chef, athlete and writer

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | CLEAN ELECTIONS

CLEAN ELECTIONS FROM PAGE 16

media campaign. We have radio commercials, we have a very large digital presence and a large presence on social media. What we’re trying to do is connect voters with an official source of information. We’re encouraging voters to get their election information from trusted sources, and that would be your local election officials. Our website is perhaps one of the greatest resources that we have. We are

seeing a lot of traffic on our website right now from voters who are trying to learn about, maybe, the vote-by-mail process. That’s a really hot topic right now. Our website really breaks down the process but also some of the myths that are out there, some of the misconceptions.

We try to tackle that, explaining all of these processes and also the security and the integrity of elections. We break all of that down on our website. We let voters know, “Hey, getting your ballot by mail, early voting is safe and it’s secure. You know, maybe there are issues going on with the post office right now.

DW: What is the importance of voting?

GR: Voting means something different to everybody, and the best encouragement that I can give, especially for younger people and our students is, this is your home. Maybe it’s not your permanent home, maybe you’re just going to school here, but voting impacts so much

18 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Special Edition Edition ●● Wednesday, Wednesday, October October 21, 21, 2020 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Where do the pres. candidates stand with their environmental policies?

BY JILLIAN BARTSCH @_thisisjillian_

LAUREN TRENCH | THE DAILY WILDCAT

ENVIRONMENTALISTS GATHER TO PROTEST climate change in El Presidio Park in Downtown Tucson, on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. Climate protests and conversations have sparked up across the country in the last four years and is a hot topic amoung candidates.

Current U.S. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have very different climate change and environmental policies.

For water pollution issues, the Trump administration has expressed that drinking water quality is a top priority. Trump has said, “America’s water infrastructure must be effectively managed and modernized to meet the needs of current and future generations of Americans.”

Trump plans on working toward this by formally establishing an interagency Water Subcabinet that will streamline the federal government’s approach to managing America’s water resources.

Biden’s take on water pollution issues is that he plans on creating policies to ensure that all communities have safe drinking water and to prevent pollution of water in vulnerable communities. Biden’s plan for this is to take action against fossil fuel companies and other polluters.

While Trump has a plan for environmental policies, he doesn’t agree with climate change.

Trump recently expressed skepticism for climate change while visiting California during the wildfires. However, Trump has plans for policies that reduce wildfire risk on millions of acres of federal lands. He also plans on having the United States join the One Trillion Trees Initiative to plant, conserve and restore trees on American soil and around the world.

Biden’s policies for climate change align closely with the Green New Deal. Biden has stated that the Green New Deal is a crucial framework in making the necessary changes to combat climate change. According to Biden’s plan, he will ensure the U.S. achieves a 100% clean energy economy and reaches net-zero emissions no later than 2050. His policies to reach this goal include signing a series of new executive orders and demanding

that Congress enacts legislation in the first year of his presidency. These policies will allow investment in clean energy and climate research.

The two have very different policies for drilling. Trump’s administration had a plan to allow oil and gas drilling on the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, Trump recently expanded a ban on drilling sites off the Atlantic Ocean.

Biden promised on his campaign website to pursue a global moratorium on offshore drilling.

Trump’s other policies for environmental issues are signing the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which supports conservation and environmental stewardship. He also has policies that expand recreational access to public lands that support land and water conversation. Trump also signed the Great American Outdoors Act, which is conservation funding that helps improve national parks and public lands.

During his presidency, Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement to remove clean water protections. Trump also removed Obama-era clean water protections that protected rivers, streams and wetlands from pollution.

Biden’s other policies for environmental issues are to build a stronger, more resilient nation. His policies for this are to make infrastructure investments to rebuild the nation and to ensure that buildings, water, transportation and energy infrastructure can withstand the impacts of climate change.

His other policy is to use the power of government to boost climate resilience efforts by developing regional climate resilience plans, in partnership with local universities and national labs, for local access to the most relevant science, data, information, tools and training.

Election Day is on Nov. 3, 2020, and these policies along with many others play an important role in the election.

The Daily Wildcat • 19

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 â—? Special Edition

Some stories of domestic abuse go untold...

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

d e t c e n Con

Sign-up for Emerge’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month e-news series in October.

October 24

October 22 WEAR PURPLE DA

DA !AR

Donation ro -off event

2545 E. ADAMS STREET 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.EMERGECENTER.ORG

These University of Arizona areas support the efforts of the Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse during Domestic Violence Awareness Month — and every other day of the year: ď źď źď ź

Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy – Logo Suite Overview

ď ˝ď ˝ď ˝

Available for professional print in CMYK, PMS and BW (PDF and EPS) | Available for digital and Office products in RGB (PNG and SVG)

PRIMARY Use for all formal communications and for advertising outside of Southern Arizona, when the audience is not aware of the UA relationship.

For example, send your Primary logo to the organizers of a conference brochure where your unit is participating along with several other universities; best choice for stationery.

ALTERNATE Use on websites, when the name of the University is prominently noted outside your logo, and for local advertising when the UA-unit relationship is clear.

20 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | VOTING MAP 2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

Vote blue no matter who part 2: Save the nation

Election 2020: where you can vote on and near campus

On campus, the Santa Rita room in the Student Union Memorial Center will be open Oct. 26 to Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for early ballot drop-off.

Emergency voting is for individuals who have an emergency on Election Day that would physically prevent them from voting, or for voters who have health concerns. Those who wish to emergency vote must sign a form stating that they have an emergency, but they do not need to specify.

The closest emergency voting location to campus is the Recorder’s Main Office. The dates for emergency voting are Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BY KAYLEIGH COOK @mountainsaguaro

Another site close to campus is Woods Library at 3455 N. 1st Ave. It will be open Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The two voting locations within a mile of campus are at First United Methodist Church, 915 E 4th St., in the Arizona Room, or the Donna L. Higgins Neighborhood Center, 2160 N 6th Ave., in the multipurpose room.

I

n March, I made the case to “Vote blue no matter who,” as the democratic candidate race narrowed to Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. I argued that the “Bernie or bust” movement was problematic, as well as Biden supporters saying they wouldn’t vote for Bernie (they just didn’t have as catchy of a name).

I would now like to make a new case to you, one that you may have heard before, but it is so important that I had to write a whole column on it: vote blue no matter what.

And yes, I mean no matter what.

Many lay conservatives like to defend President Donald Trump and his actions by saying “well, he’s not a politician!” or “he doesn’t take any bullshit” — to which I say, he spouts so much bullshit he can’t keep up with himself.

When your candidate is so problematic that other politicians in their party will stray from the line to vote him out, you know something is desperately wrong.

I would like to clarify that I think voting along party lines for the sake of the party is not helpful to the democratic process, but that’s what it has come to in America.

Some conservatives claim that “leftists” don’t like Trump because he is loudmouthed, unapologetic, proud of America and rich. I can verify that this claim is not true. I don’t like Trump because he is racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, childish and all around stupid. I don’t like Trump because I have the right to critique my country to help it evolve and he wants me to either agree with everything he says or be subjected to Martial law.

I don’t like Trump because he reversed healthcare protections put forth to protect

To check your designated polling station based on your address, visit Pima County’s poll locator.

The closest location off-campus that will accept early ballots is the Recorder’s Main Office at 240 N. Stone Ave. Curbside ballot drop-off will be available from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Where to turn in early ballots or vote early Voting locations on or near campus Emergency voting sites

transgender Americans. I don’t like Trump because he completely disregards the environment for his own selfish gains — including plowing down sacred land to Native American people for his pointless (and expensive) border wall. I don’t like Trump because he said he could “grab women by the pussy” because he’s famous — not to mention his 26 sexual misconduct allegations from women that have been conveniently swept under the rug.

I believe that former Vice President Joe Biden holds a brighter, normal future for America. I say “normal” because yes, believe it or not, I hate waking up every morning dreading what awful things our president has said while I was asleep. Not only is Biden not insane, but he actually has set forth plans for his first

Once you’ve registered to vote, the next step is finding out when and where to vote. Pima County is providing multiple locations and methods for voting, and the Daily Wildcat is breaking it all down for you.

100 days in office as well as policy outlines, which is something that Trump has failed to do repeatedly.

When Trump was first elected, I was 16 and I, too, fell victim to the fear mongering sent to disturb conservative voters; I was happy and thankful he was elected.

But when I got to school, I saw so many people who I loved and respected in tears because of his election, and that set off red flags for me.

People should not be afraid to be who they are because of the president. That is not a democracy and that is not a country that should be a “leader of the free world.” We should be able to disagree with the president on policy points, yes. But when the president represents a culture of hatred, who continuously divides

the nation, who picks fights for the sake of being in a fight, that is not a person who you want representing your country.

When I watched Biden speak to the country on the night of the first debate and Trump was screaming nonsense from the other side of the stage, it felt different. For the first time in four years, I felt like the United States once again had an opportunity to improve, to right past wrongs and move forward to make positive changes. Biden wants to govern for the whole country, not trick a few folks into thinking he’s doing well while working for the rich. Don’t get me wrong, I know Biden has supported bad policies in the past, but he has admitted he was wrong, which is more than Trump could ever do.

So, I once again plead with you — get off your high-horse, do what’s best for the country and vote blue this election!

The Daily Wildcat • 21

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: The flags of U.S. territories including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

People living in territories under the jurisdiction of the U.S. deserve constitutional rights

BY LAUREN BORELLI @DailyWildcat

W

hen it comes to U.S. territories, you can find a mess of restricted rights and half-assed citizenship for those living within them. In the 15 territories, with 4 million inhabitants, the U.S. has marginalized the inhabitants and caused the mass disenfranchisement of their populations for decades. The territories include Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as a few uninhabited islands. When it comes to the rights and citizenship in the territories, things get a bit complicated.

Puerto Rico’s official classification is “unincorporated territory” of the United States. This means that only select parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to residents, although most federal laws apply just the same. Puerto Rico is also a commonwealth of the United States and has a close relationship with the federal government, with inhabitants receiving U.S. citizenship at birth. These rights extend to the ability to serve in the military and government services, but they lack the right to vote and have no electoral representation; they are not even permitted the right to elect a representative to send to Congress.

Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands, similarly to Puerto Rico, are unincorporated territories and only select parts of the Constitution apply to residents. Residents are also considered citizens and are allowed to serve in the military. Guam has extremely high rates of military service, and one in eight of those living in Guam have served. These territories

PUERTO RICO IS A Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory. Its population is about 3. 2 million, yet they have almost no representation in the U.S. government.

are allowed to elect and send a delegate to the House of Representatives, as well as to attend Democratic and Republican conventions.

However, this delegate possesses little to no voting abilities and inhabitants of these territories do not have the right to vote.

American Samoa is one of the most marginalized territories as they do not possess many of the already limited rights of the other territories. In addition to being an unincorporated territory like all the others, they are an “unorganized” territory as well.

This means they have no congressionally implemented system of government and do not receive full citizenship upon birth.

Inhabitants of American Samoa are regarded as “Nationals,” meaning that to acquire citizenship they will first need to follow a

similar process to that of someone trying to immigrate to the United States. The process will include tests in English, U.S. history and civics, as well as upwards of $700 in fees.

If the obstacles made to restrict the rights of American Samoans don’t sound eerily similar to literacy tests and poll taxes, then please, continue on. Arguably one of the most patriotic populations, it is evident that one of the few American rights bestowed upon American Samoa is enthusiastically used. American Samoa has historically had extremely high military participation rates, even achieving the number one recruitment office in 2014. On top of this, the small island is home to six military bases. On an island where people are not even officially considered American citizens, we see the

highest military participation rates, as well as the largest donation of land to military bases proportionately.

In looking at the history of this great saga of oppression we find ourselves with the same Supreme Court that exemplified racism in America. In the early 20th century, shortly after acquiring American Samoa in 1900, the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. territories did not have the right to vote. This would be the same Supreme Court that made the famous ruling in the Plessy v. Ferguson case, which coined the term “separate but equal”.

Now let me share another story from history with you: the year is 1773. The British Parliament creates a tax on tea in the North American colonies, commonly referred to as the Tea Act. In protest of the taxation by the government, without adequate colonial representation in Parliament, a group of Massachusetts colonists throw a shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. Ten years later, on the same principles from that night, an independent nation stood victorious over its oppressors and began to work on what would be a government meant to represent every single person living under its jurisdiction.

Colonists, much like inhabitants of territories, were demanding fair and equal treatment. I urge you to look closely at something that many of us take for granted and know that fellow Americans are not receiving the level of rights they should be.

As you prepare to cast your ballot, remember what our country was founded on and strove for the democracy we are promised. Change can only happen when we all stand up against this injustice and do not accept inequality as good enough.

— Lauren is a political science major.

She is from Baltimore

22 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Wednesday, October 21, 2020

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | INTERNATIONAL IMPACTS

From visas to voting, international students express their thoughts on the upcoming election

BY KATIE BEAUFORD @beauuford

The University of Arizona hosts more than 4,000 international students, who are part of the over 1 million international students who leave their home countries to live, study and work across the United States. While studying in a new country offers unique opportunities to engage with different cultures, industries and education, it also comes with a plethora of concerns, particularly surrounding the United States’ controversial and ever-changing immigration policies.

According to Rodolpho Souza Amado de Carvalho, a biochemistry PhD student from Brazil, the upcoming elections have been cause for concern for international students.

“They’re worried about the elections,” Carvalho said. “Of course they don’t want Trump to get reelected because it’s going to give that sensation of insecurity, [where] they don’t know what’s going to happen. They don’t know if they’re going to be able to easily go to their countries to come back.”

Carvalho also expressed concern that the Optional Practical Training visa program might be changed. The OPT program allows international students to receive up to twelve months of employment authorization during or after their graduation from an American university.

In May of this year, the Trump administration announced intentions to limit and cut the OPT program in order to provide more jobs for American citizens. “[The OPT] is a very good thing because you can explore the private sector, you can include some experience in the real world,” Carvalho said. “We have this right as international students, if you’re graduating from [the US]. And this is one of the things that Trump is planning or already trying to take.”

The OPT program is not the only one that the Trump Administration has targeted for cuts and overhauls. Since 2017, the White House has been vocal about changing the H1-B visa process as well. An H1-B visa is a nonimmigrant

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SPEAKING at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland. (GAGE SKIDMORE/(CC BY-SA 2.0)

work visa for foreign workers with at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specialized field such as mathematics, IT, supply chain management, finance or medicine.

Chaitanya Ranade is an undergraduate from India studying pre-business. He expressed concerns about the H1-B policy. “[Trump] is saying that he is … prioritizing American citizens and giving them jobs, but what I see is impacting the H1 visa policy, I will need to work in the United States,” Ranade said.

At the start of October, the Trump Administration announced that they would be overhauling the H1-B visa policy and process. Planned changes include requiring more specific,

“

specialized degrees for foreign workers and to cut down the length of some H1-B visas down from three years to one.

Ken Cuccinelli, the deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, predicted that these changes will result in at least one-third of H1-B visa applications being rejected.

These changes, and the attitude of the Trump Administration regarding immigrant and foreign workers, has caused concern for Ranade.

“What scares me is that, after coming here, after my parents invested in me, and getting a degree from the college of management … if I get a job offer from a good company and my H1-B is not approved … they will send me back to

India,” Ranade said.

For Alsa Munaqiah, an Indonesian undergraduate studying finance and management information, the concern over H1-B visa changes motivated her to take on a minor in addition to her two majors.

“I added a minor with a global business because I was like, ‘if I can’t get a job, at least I can start my career somewhere else,’” Munaqiah said. “I’ll have a background in international business, which makes me more suitable to work anywhere else. So that’s my game plan for now.”

Carvalho, Munaqiah and Ranade, who all described themselves as being politically active in their home countries, feel that it’s incredibly important that Americans vote. “[Everyone] should select a candidate who they think can do better,” Ranade said.

For Munaqiah, part of what makes America a place worth living and studying in is its immigrant population and legacy. “America is an immigrant country. That’s what makes America great. And that’s one of the reasons why I came to the United States, because it’s so diverse.”

Carvalho hopes that Americans can consider the positive feelings that international students feel about the U.S. “I love America. That’s why I decided to come here for undergrad. That’s why I decided to come back for my PhD,” Carvalho said. “I think that that’s something that Americans should see.

That an international student probably loves this country just as much as they do.”

[Everyone] should select a candidate who they think can do better,” — CHAITANYA RANADE, UNDERGRAD

The Daily Wildcat • 23

Wednesday, October 21, 2020 ● Special Edition

2020 ELECTION GUIDE | OPINIONS

Topic of What’s at stake for you in this election? the week:

BY LAUREN BORELLI @DailyWildcat

T

he status of the environment is precariously teetering on the point of no return in this election.

Let’s admit the facts: Climate change is real, nothing we have done so far is going to save the environment and something is going to have to change if we want a future on this planet. It is our job, by right of living on this little blue dot, that we open our eyes to the damage we have inflicted on it. The polar ice caps are melting at a record pace leading to drastic consequences, including but not limited to entire

BY ANDREA MORENO @Amoreno995

T

his election is the first presidential election I will be able to vote in, so it is extremely important that I do not waste it. I am a woman, Mexican and a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This means that there is a lot at stake for me this election. Many conservative nominees are pro-life and would like to make abortions illegal in most cases, which I feel would be infringing on the rights of a woman to choose what she wants to do with her own body.

As a woman of Mexican heritage, whether Trump’s administration has made it harder to immigrate into the United States or not, Trump has been extremely open about being opposed to immigration. Although I already live here, many of my family members have wanted to obtain citizenship and have been going through the process legally.

islands and miles of shoreline being swallowed by the sea. In recent years, an unprecedented number of wildfires have devastated millions and scorched hundreds of miles of forests. Your vote, more than ever before, holds the power to save the environment before it is too late. Admittedly, both candidates have their flaws, but do your research and figure out who has the environment’s best interests at heart, or is at the very least willing to admit it’s real. This election, my vote will be put towards pulling our heads out of the sand and actually doing something worth while to reverse the damage we’ve done.

Yet, they still have not had any progress or an answer for more than 10 years. I only hope that it will become quicker and more organized. The LGBTQ+ community has also seen uncertainty with government decisions for decades. However, as some rights were given to the community throughout the years, we have also lost some during the Trump administration’s time in office. For example, Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military and he has also rescinded certain civil rights from transgender students.

All three of these issues are near and dear to my heart, but there are many more that will affect the way of life for many people. We continue to see discrimination and racism, and mishandling of a pandemic and of the military.

Of course, these issues will not suddenly go away by electing a new president, but we must start somewhere.

The opinions desk explains the concerns they’re focused on as they cast their ballot for Nov. 3

BY KAYLEIGH COOK @mountainsaguaro

T

his month, I’ve cast my first vote for a presidential candidate. Yet, I feel the exhaustion of a lifetime from the last four years of constant fear, confusion and disbelief — all of the feelings that have been building to this moment. My biggest concern is the environment, plain and simple. If humans continue to contribute to climate change at the rate they have since the Industrial Revolution, half of the human population will die from natural disasters before we get an opportunity to truly fix the other pressing issues facing the country and the world. Not only that, but climate change disproportionately affects impoverished people, who are disproportionately BIPOC folks,

BY AIDAN RHODES @aidanrhodes11

D

emocracy is the biggest issue for me in this election.

Our current president has made it his mission — and subsequently the mission of his party — to undermine our nation’s democratic process. In this election we aren’t voting for candidates so much as for the future of our nation as one where the government is ultimately accountable to the people. Our democracy is frustrating.

It’s full of arcane laws and institutions that infringe on more rights than they protect. We are far from

equal protection for all but we are infinitely closer than we were a century ago, or two for that matter. That progress has been made by marching and speaking out, and by voting.

Voting in this election, I will cast my ballot for our future. I will vote for our right to protest and speak out. I will vote for our right to vote going forward. I will vote for all the women, people of color, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people who aren’t yet equal in this country. I will vote for our future as a democracy, instead of the autocracy the current administration and its party are desperately pulling us towards.

which further entrenches the inequity that exists in America to this day. We need a president who will acknowledge that climate change is real, racism exists and changes to our systems need to happen. Dammit, I want a president that isn’t so insane that I wake up every morning dreading what awful thing he has said next.

In this election, I’m voting for our security as a nation, the individual rights of every person no matter sexual orientation, gender identification, race, religious affiliation or ethnicity. I’m voting to ensure we have inhabitable land for every person one hundred years from now. I’m voting for every citizen in the United States to have their opportunity at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We are not truly free until everyone is free.

BY GERALDINE ESPINOSA @GEspinosaWrites

T

his upcoming election is like no other and so much is at stake for so many.

While casting my ballot I am going to be keeping some people that I love in mind. A handful of people near and dear to me cannot vote, despite how much they would like to, due to felony disenfranchisement and/or their citizenship status in this country. I am voting for them in hopes of electing a candidate that will validate their experiences and prioritize their needs. Growing up in Tucson, in such close proximity to the border, the topic of immigration and the border wall is very close to my heart. Issues such as these have always been prevalent in my community and have been majorly disregarded and have been made invalid by the current administration. I am choosing to vote in hopes of helping elect a candidate that will protect the people in my community: BIPOC folx, poor people and those who are undocumented.

24 • The Daily Wildcat

Special Edition ● Thursday, October 8, 2020