Students across Shippensburg University campus exercised their rights as United States citizens and voted in the gubernatorial election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. For many, due to their age, voting was a new experience easing them into adulthood and the “real” world.

Coby Sullivan, a sophomore exercise science major, voted for his first time on Tuesday. Sullivan reported that he selected all Republican candidates. “I almost voted for the Democrat guy though ’cause he had a cooler last name,” Sullivan said.

On the other hand, first year graduate student, Laura Hoffstetter, voted Democrat not for the ring of his last name but due to his views on making education a priority and accessible to all American citizens.

Before even starting the interview with freshman human communications major, Erika Rhinehart said, “If you ask me who I’m voting for I would say Tom.”

Rhinehart’s answer was appropriate since the main candidates running for governor were Republican incumbent Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf, a York businessman. Education was a controversial topic between the two Toms. While Wolf wants to grant public schools with up to $1 billion, Corbett promised no more funding, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Another conflicting opinion was taxes. Corbett is more on the side of opposing a tax increase while Wolf supports it. However, broke SU college students may be happy to hear that Wolf feels Pennsylvania’s minimum wage should be raised from $7.25 to $10.10, according to AP.

Since this election is not promoted much and seen as “less important” than the presidential election, there usually is not a big voter turnout.

“Governors make extremely important decisions in the government, like higher education in the state. By voicing an opinion for the person responsible for making decisions in the state, I feel that I have an impact in my own future as a student,” Hoffstetter said.

Sometimes citizens feel that their votes will not even make a difference. “If everyone takes the attitude that their vote doesn’t matter, that’s a lot of people not voting. Every vote counts. It’s part of our civic duties,” said Rhinehart.

In the end, the election was a tight race with Corbett at 45.10 percent of the votes and Wolf at 54.90 percent, according to AP. Despite the democrat win for Pennsylvania, the Republican Party won the majority of the votes for the House of Representatives, Senate and governors across the country.

With the 2014 election coming to a close, preparations for the 2016 presidential election are beginning. In order to be able to vote for the next election students should make sure they register online at registertovote.org/index.html.

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