‘I’m a little nervous because a lot of the information online is either propaganda or fake news.’

Savannah Tortorice, 19, is a sophomore at UWM from Dodgeville, Wisconsin. She is a Kinesiology major but has always had a deep interest in politics. From following NPR as a child to casting her vote as an adult, Tortorice believes in advocating for change.

Gabriella Fields: Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election? If so, for who?

Savannah Tortorice: I do! I plan on voting for David Crowley because a lot of what he’s talking about aligns with my personal beliefs. There are some things I disagree with, like the data centers. I don’t support them. I don’t think they should be in Wisconsin. I think they’re taking up valuable land, especially the one in Port Washington. I used to drive by it everyday for work and it was huge and ugly. It went on for at least a couple of miles. All in all, I just don’t like data centers and I don’t like what they do to the land around it.

Fields: Why is voting in this election important to you? What motivates you to vote?

Tortorice: Well, part of why I vote is because I do believe that my vote matters. Even if my candidate doesn’t win I’d like to think my vote accounts for something. I’m motivated because I want to be part of something, I want to be part of the change.

Fields: When you think about the election, and you hear different viewpoints, how does that make you feel? What are your feelings as a young voter?

Tortorice: I’m a little nervous because a lot of the information online is either propaganda or fake news. I worry that I’m consuming the wrong media. I want to make sure my facts are straight and I’m not missing out on any of Crowley’s beliefs. I’m excited because I’m a Democrat through and through. With the state the United States is in, I’m very angry with the Republican Party.

Fields: Have you always been interested in politics or have recent political issues grabbed your attention?

Tortorice: No, I feel like I’ve always been engaged in politics to some degree. Growing up, my father always had strong knowledge on politics. We saw Barack Obama win together. My dad would always explain things to me and point out when I was wrong. Since he would always listen to NPR and the news, I would ask questions and delve into the topics being discussed. Also, I feel like at this age it’s important to immerse yourself with different perspectives around the world. We’re so blessed to be in college right now. We have our own house, food, jobs, and I feel like I owe my vote to the people that are actually going through things.

Fields: Do you cast your vote based on issues or party loyalty?

Tortorice: Definitely issues. Not everything is perfect, there are some issues on the Democratic side that I don’t agree with. There are a lot of things on the Republican side I really don’t agree with. I’m not going to stay loyal to something just because. If I have a problem with something it’s hard for me to overlook it.

Fields: How would you be affected by either a Crowley or a Tiffany win?

Tortorice: My mind goes to new data centers or abortion laws. What if I was pregnant? I don’t want to have that baby, especially as a college student.

Fields: Do you have any concerns about the outcome of this election?

Tortorice: If Tom Tiffany wins, the Republican Party just gets hold of another state. His win would contribute to the power the Republican Party already has in the United States.