‘I want to see change. Especially in local elections, your voice can carry a lot more weight.’

Norah Lom is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a major in JAMS and a minor in women and gender studies. She discusses her reasoning behind voting and what holds importance to her in the upcoming election for Wisconsin governor.

Gianna Belgiorno: Are you interested in politics? Why or why not?

Norah Lom: I’m very involved in community activism, like more local issues. But I think where my interest lies is the big human rights issues, abortion access, things like that.I try my best to stay up to date with the news.

Belgiorno: Do you plan to vote this November?

Lom: I do. I have my absentee ballot coming in the mail. I should be voting soon here.

Belgiorno: Why do you think voting is important to you?

I think voting is important for a lot of reasons. Making your voice heard is important. I do a lot of work with Planned Parenthood. Abortion’s on the ballot once again; it is going to protect reproductive health access. The two candidates have very opposing views. We have Tom Tiffany, who continues to vote to defund Planned Parenthood, and then David Crowley, who continues to support and be an ally to Planned Parenthood. So, I think that’s especially important when thinking about my vote in the upcoming election.

Belgiorno: What motivates you to vote?

Lom: I want to see change. Especially in local elections, your voice can carry a lot more weight. I think that motivates me to vote, especially since if no one decided to vote, there would be issues. So, we’ve got to get our voice heard.

Belgiorno: How are you feeling this fall?

Lom: I’m feeling hopeful. Obviously, there’s a lot going against us, especially Planned Parenthood, but I always try to have some optimism and to keep fighting because it allows for more grassroots organization and community building. I’m feeling good, and I’m hopeful that our work is making a difference.

Belgiorno: Do you care more about issues or party loyalty?

Lom: I care a lot more about issues. It honestly doesn’t matter what party someone is. I mean, obviously I care, but it’s more about the actual issues and the policies that they’re fighting for. That’s where the change is going to be made, rather than these two-party opposing politics.

Belgiorno: How will you be affected by the outcome of the governor’s race?

Lom: Abortion’s on the ballot; as a woman, I would say with Tom Tiffany in office, there would be a loss of potential access to reproductive freedom, which would directly affect me, as well as funding to Planned Parenthood and organizations that I work with. I think that’s especially important. But also, we’re voting for if data centers are going to be built, which is going to directly impact us in our city and our neighboring cities, especially Port Washington. I think those are the things that are standing out to me right now.

Belgiorno: Any concerns about how the outcome of this election could affect your education?

Lom: Right now, I’m a women and gender studies minor, and the program is being shut down and combined with the English department. I’m not sure that that’s a direct thing from who’s going to be our governor, but the culture of the political climate right now is very against these sorts of humanities departments. I think that’s something that especially weighs heavily on me. I also have an LGBTQ+ studies certificate, so I think these programs that are very based in humanities and learning about identities that have often been ignored or tried to be hidden are in danger of being taken away.

Belgiorno: How important do you think this midterm outcome is to national politics?

Lom: Wisconsin is obviously a swing state. I think our politics make a big difference in terms of what the national election will lead to. And so, us turning one color or the other can make a big impact on the culture of the people in the state, but also how that voting is going to transfer to the national and presidential election.

Belgiorno: Anything else you’d like to say?

Lom: Go vote. Your voice is important, and it deserves to be heard.