While on-campus residents voted at the Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, off-campus Villanova students went to a different precinct to cast their ballot. For those who wanted to vote in Pennsylvania and did not participate in mail-in-ballots or early voting, off-campus students were assigned to polling centers determined by their place of residence.
Some residences with high student concentrations have the same precinct. Such is the case for residents of the Villas at Bryn Mawr, colloquially known as “Props,” who voted at the Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence. Similarly, residents of College Hall, colloquially known as “Courts,” voted at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
Senior Props inhabitant Shannon O’Brien shared her experience voting off-campus as part of a densely populated Villanova residency.
“It was nice going to the polling place and seeing other students also vote,” O’Brien said. “My roommate and I were able to go together, which was very convenient.”
Compared to the seemingly endless line outside the Mullen Center, it seemed that lines for off-campus venues were fairly short and efficient.
Senior Kate Smith voted at St. John’s AME Church. When Smith arrived at the polls at 9 a.m., she found no lines. According to Smith, the entire process took around five minutes.
Similar sentiments were shared by others, such as O’Brien, who voted at the designated precinct for Props residents.
“My polling place was not very busy at all,” O’Brien said. “I went at 9:20, and I was out by 9:35.”
Among the lines at these polling centers, the demographics were more representative of the general public than that of Villanova’s campus. Senior Megan Curtin, who voted at the Community Park in Ardmore, described the turnout at her polling location.
“Since we live off campus in Ardmore, there were mostly parents and middle-aged people,” Curtin said. “We saw another Villanova student voting, and there was also a kids table for children under 18 to fill out a mock ballot.”
Despite the fairly smooth trip to the polls, many students are thankful that their professors chose to cancel classes, allowing for flexibility in their voting experience.
“My professor canceled our 10 a.m. class, which was helpful because due to my schedule with work and other classes, it would not have allowed me to go early otherwise,” senior AnNa Hughes said. “It gave me enough time to vote and travel to my internship afterwards, too.”
Curtin shared similar sentiments, as her Tuesday classes were all canceled, and commented on her enjoyable experience at the polls.
“My roommates and I were able to walk to our polling place and enjoy the beautiful weather,” Curtin said. “We were greeted by friendly poll workers and offered free donuts. We left feeling excited and accomplished that we exercised our civic duty.”
Whether students voted on or off campus, Villanovans felt excited to exercise their right to vote.
“It was surreal voting in person in the arguably most important state in the election,” O’Brien said. “I was extremely proud to be able to vote in my first presidential elections for the candidates who reflect my values and represent the future of the United States that I want to see. I am excited and cautiously optimistic to see the results later on, but it felt great to know that I can use my voice to vote in such an important election.”
