{"id":44258,"date":"2026-05-04T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=44258"},"modified":"2026-05-02T10:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T14:26:11","slug":"yourvoice-how-tartans-are-approaching-the-2026-ohio-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2026\/05\/04\/yourvoice-how-tartans-are-approaching-the-2026-ohio-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"YourVoice: How Tartans are approaching the 2026 Ohio primary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Voting is often talked about as one of the easiest ways to make a difference with just one choice, one ballot and a chance to have your voice heard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in reality, it doesn\u2019t feel the same for everyone. For some people, voting is simply a habit they\u2019ve developed over the years. For others, it depends on things like their schedule, awareness of the issues or confidence that their vote will actually matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Ohio\u2019s May 5 primary<\/a> gets closer, these different perspectives are becoming more noticeable. Some people have voted early or plan to show up on Election Day. Others are still undecided about whether they\u2019ll take part at all. Some feel a strong sense of responsibility, while others feel unsure, overwhelmed or disconnected from all the information surrounding elections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke Slone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Luke Slone voting is still something he is trying to figure out. He said politics has never really been a big part of his life, especially since neither he nor his family were very politically involved. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Luke Slone.<\/strong> CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t really been planning on voting,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never been very political, and my family wasn\u2019t either, so it\u2019s just not something I grew up around.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even so, Luke said he is not completely against the idea of voting. If he does decide to participate, he said early voting would likely be the most convenient option for his schedule. He also said he prefers the idea of in-person voting because it feels more real and engaging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt just feels more real when you go in person,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt makes it feel like you\u2019re actually part of something, and it brings a little more excitement to it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke admitted that he hasn\u2019t been following the election closely, which makes him feel less prepared to vote. However, he still understands the importance of participation in general. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do think voting is important because it gives you a voice, and if more people show up, those votes can really make a difference,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faustin Muhire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\u00a0 an international student at Sinclair College majoring in nursing, voting is something Faustin Muhire is still getting familiar with as he adjusts to life in a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Faustin Muhire.<\/strong> CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m still learning how things work here, so I don\u2019t really have a plan to vote yet, but I know it\u2019s something important for people who can,” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though he is not actively involved, Muhire said he respects the idea of voting and understands why people take it seriously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that if he were more comfortable with the process, he would likely prefer in-person voting because it would help him better understand how everything works firsthand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also thinks that being informed is very critical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think before anything, you need to understand what\u2019s going on,” he said. “Once you know that, you can really see why voting matters.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishowraj Poakhrel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Bishoraj Poakhrel, an international F-1 student and IT assistant in the Sinclair library<\/a>, voting is something he approaches with clear intention and interest. He always plans to vote in his home country and would prefer early voting because it fits better with his schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Bishoraj Poakhrel.<\/strong> CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Poakhrel said he stays somewhat aware of what is happening, but he doesn\u2019t focus heavily on every race or candidate. Instead, he looks at the bigger picture when making decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, of course I\u2019m voting,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he pays attention to candidates’ past work and how committed they seem to helping people, rather than just what they say during campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most important part is looking at what they promise, what they\u2019ve done in the past, and their capability,\u201d he said. He also made it clear that if he ever chose not to vote, it would not be because of lack of interest, but because he might feel that the candidates are not strong enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, he strongly believes in participation and the importance of every vote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery single vote and voter matters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on these three experiences, voting means different things to different people. Some like Poakhrel are ready and committed to voting, some like Slone are still unsure, and others like Muhire are focused on understanding candidates more deeply before fully engaging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with these differences, they all agree on one thing\u2014voting matters. Whether it\u2019s about having a voice, staying informed, or learning the process, each perspective shows that civic participation is a personal matter of public importance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monsoon Koirala, reporter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out more from The Clarion:<\/p>\n\n\n