When discussing the 2024 Republican primary, we must keep one thing in mind — former president Donald Trump will in all likelihood be renominated. Polls show Trump maintaining a substantial lead over every challenger.
Read moreGeorge Santos: America’s Most Wanted (to Resign)
Republican George Santos is the House Representative for the 3rd District of New York. After a failed run for office in 2020, Santos defeated his Democratic opponent in the November 2022 election. In late December 2022, news broke that Santos had lied about his resume. On December 26, Santos conceded that he had embellished his resume and apologized, but stressed that he did not break any laws. Just two days later, however, the Nassau County District Attorney opened an investigation into Santos's questionable background. Since then, Santos has been accused of a plethora of lies, from lying about working for Goldman Sachs, to misusing campaign funds, to stealing money from a GoFundMe for a veteran's sick dog.
Read moreThe Solidarity Project: the Story of my Art Installation in Case Gallery
A few months ago, Akhil Reed Omar, a professor at Yale University, came to Skidmore. He was giving a talk about the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the future of the Supreme Court - both topics I am interested in. But that is not why I attended this lecture. I attended this lecture because I wanted to ask him a specific question.
Read moreA Student's Guide to the 2022 New York General Election
As October winds down, Americans begin to anticipate Election Day. Every year on the second Tuesday of November, American citizens show up to vote, an act long perceived as their civic duty. This year’s election is slated to be particularly contentious, with many vital policies on the ballot, including abortion rights. The overturning of Roe V. Wade in June 2022 left access to abortion care in the hands of state governments. Furthermore, against the backdrop of a mostly conservative Supreme Court, the longevity of various civil rights acts are at risk. For example, hearings regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act approach in early November. Regardless of a person’s stance on these issues, voting is an American hallmark of making one’s voice heard. Though 2022 is not a Presidential election year, it is still crucial to vote at the local level. Whether you plan on voting via mail-in ballot or in person, here is everything you need to know to be voter-ready for Tuesday, November 8.
Read moreThe Sports Bans Continue: Oklahoma and Arizona
On March 30, the states of Oklahoma and Arizona joined the growing list of states which prohibit transgender women and girls from playing in female sports divisions. Both laws are rooted in the claim that trans athletes have an unfair advantage due to higher levels of testosterone before transition, and that this makes sporting competitions unfair. The vast majority of the individuals leading this charge against trans sport participation have no past history of caring about women’s sports or women’s rights in general. These are not unrelated, but part of a reaction to the last few decades of progress on LGBTQ+ rights and women’s rights.
Read moreTensions Rise in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
I asked my brother, Nathaniel, how he was getting acclimated to his new school. “It’s a ghost-town, Stephanie,” he replied, “everybody left.” My brother was referring to the American embassy kids who had left.
Read moreThe Pollution of Politics: What We Can Learn From This Year's UN Climate Conference
The unfortunate reality highlighted, once again, by this year's COP is that we cannot rely on our governments, their theatrical conferences, and various overly optimistic speeches given by political leaders to be the catalyst for change needed to curb the catastrophic climate destruction. That being said, the greater attention this year's conference received and subsequent voices of dissent towards the inaction of our current leaders have been an encouraging sign for the future and changes that are hopefully soon to come.
Read moreWhy the Democrats Lost in 2021 (And Will Lose Again)
As the first Election Day since the tumultuous 2020 Presidential election, tensions were riding high and the results would be indicative not only of the respective candidates, but also of how the nation felt about the Biden Administration. The results of the election could have been predicted and was not particularly unusual given the events of the past year. Nonetheless, this past election cycle and its results are concerning signs for Democrats as to what will come in future elections.
Read moreMeet the Saratoga Mayoral Candidate: Robin Dalton
In her interview with The Skidmore News, Commissioner Dalton detailed her plan for implementing effective communication between the community and city hall, supporting the city’s police and fire services, and advocating for nonpartisan elections in Saratoga Springs.
Read moreMeet the Saratoga Mayoral Candidate: Ron Kim
Capital Region native Ron Kim is the only Democratic candidate in next week’s mayoral election. After spending eight years on the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals and two terms as Commissioner of Public Safety, Kim is now dedicated to improving Saratoga’s infrastructure, reinvigorating democracy and restoring trust in the government. This week, The Skidmore News sat down with Ron Kim to discuss his platform, goals for Saratoga Springs, and how he envisions Skidmore students as actors in this work.
Read more“A Constitution for the Living”: Reflections on How Skidmore College Celebrated Constitution Day
On September 17, the little known holiday of “Constitution Day,” Skidmore College Political Science Professor Beau Breslin’s new book was the subject of Skidmore’s academic celebration. The book, titled “A Constitution for the Living,” takes up the theme of generational Constitutional reform and explores the theoretical history of the Constitution had it been re-ratified every generation.
Read moreThe Question of Statehood: Can Washington D.C. Become a State?
Why We Must Settle For The Two-Party System
Proportional representation would undoubtedly make other parties more competitive and gain more representation in Congress. But, altering our electoral method would be nearly impossible to implement into our current system of government. Additionally, it would generate extremist parties that would gain representation in government, as seen in eastern Europe. A two-party system may be inconvenient for distinguishing politicians in the same party, but it keeps extremists in check. There may be intra-party disagreement on issues, but that just means that voters need to understand that every politician is more nuanced than their party label.
Read moreStudent Opinions on Biden’s First 100 Days
During his campaign, Biden made a bevy of promises not limited to a quick vaccine rollout, better healthcare options, an overhaul of the immigration system, new policies to combat climate change, and official administrative projects to promote racial equity. Is he successfully fulfilling his promises? And if not, what could he be doing better? Skidmore students answered these questions and shared their thoughts on the matter.
Read moreThe War on Normal People: Revealing the Privilege of Education
The Skidmore student body prides itself on stepping outside of our bubbles to understand what it is like in the shoes of others. Another privilege that must be acknowledged, educational privilege, is one that we all share as students. The War On Normal People is a book that I believe every current college student or alum must read in order to better understand the experience and future of being “normal.”
Read moreA Guide to the 2020 Election
Casting Your Vote: In-Person and By Mail
Oh no! I’m not registered yet!
There is same-day registration in 21 states and D.C.: refer to the National Conference of State Legislature’s page on Same Day Voter Registration.
How to Vote In-Person in Saratoga Springs
If you are registered to vote at with your Skidmore address (a.k.a. in Saratoga Springs), you can vote:
Early in Gavin Park (10 Lewis Rd, Saratoga Springs) on Thursday, Oct 29th and Friday, Oct. 20th from 9 AM to 5 pm; Saturday, Oct. 31st and Sunday, Nov, 1st from 9 AM to 2 PM
On Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3rd) in Case Center from 6 AM to 9 PM
On Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3rd) at Saratoga Springs City Center (522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs) from 6 AM to 9 PM
State-by-State Deadlines for Absentee Ballots
Refer to U.S. Vote Foundation, vote.org, or your state’s Division of Elections.
Your Vote: What Does it Mean?
Presidential Election
For a brief overview of the Electoral College, I recommend the TED-Ed video, “Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained” (2012), which can be found on YouTube.
How many electors does each state have in 2020? (Image from Wikipedia)
This is also the number of congressional representatives in each state.
What are Faithless Electors and why might that be important?
There is no federal law or constitutional provision which binds the electors to the winner of the popular vote in their state. However, the precedent is that the party who elects the electors gets their votes.
There were seven faithless electors in 2016 (WA, HI, TX), the most since 1972.
July 2020: Supreme Court ruled that states could make a law which binds electors to the winning party. 31 states and D.C. have enacted such a law for the upcoming election.
For a fun novel about where the Electoral College could all go wrong (in an almost too-timely situation), check out The People’s Choice by Jeff Greenfield (1995).
Congress
Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are elected by popular vote. Congressional districts are redrawn every ten years during the redistricting process. For more information on redistricting, see Ballotpedia's page on redistricting.
Voter Suppression
Voter suppression takes form in many ways, such as the wait time at polling places, the number of polling places in an area, and voter ID laws, and is seen across the country. It is crucial to pay attention to your state’s election rules and how they can suppress the voting rights of millions of people of color, persons with disabilities, immigrants, the elderly, and students. For a deeper look into voter suppression from a historical and legal perspective, watch the New York Times video, “Why Voting in This U.S. Election Will Not Be Equal” (2020). Also check out my 2019 Skidmore News article titled “How Student Voter Oppression is Upending Democracy” which is still incredibly relevant in this election. For a Skidmore News article about broader themes in this election, see the October 2020 article by Eleanor Ketterer-Sykes, “2020 Presidential Election: A Conversation with Professor Christopher Mann.”
Fracking and Flies — Oh Wait, There’s an Election Going On?: Reflections on the Vice Presidential Debate
Following the first Presidential debate, which can only be described as catastrophic, it was hard to anticipate what the mood for Wednesday’s Vice Presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence (R) and Senator Kamala Harris (D) would be.
Read more2020 Presidential Election: A Conversation with Professor Christopher Mann
The virus, combined with an array of variables, including a polarizing political divide, have made the 2020 Presidential Election incredibly extraordinary. Or, as Professor Mann puts it, “incredibly volatile,” marking it as one of the most unprecedented in recent history.
Read moreRuth Bader Ginsburg: Balancing Democracy
As a woman with ambition during a period where a woman’s silence was expected and intelligence undervalued, Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not just persevere through her struggles, she reformed existing rules to help future generations. Being the second female and first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Ginsburg’s personal experiences with discrimination only served to motivate her.
Read moreWhy the WNBA Commands Our Full Attention Right Now
The WNBA is often overlooked in its efforts, both in terms of basketball, and their work towards a more equitable world. In the face of inevitable social revolution in the United States, I believe the players and coaches of the WNBA and the league at large deserve our full attention and support in their social justice initiatives.
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