Today, University of Northern Iowa students practiced civic engagement and filled their ballots. Those that live on campus piled into the Commons Ballroom to vote, many for the very first time. In 2022, UNI was ranked as a top college for student voting. UNI provides plenty of opportunities for students to register and learn about important voter information. ‘Panthers Vote’, a hashtag that started in 2018, sparked a campus-wide interest in the encouragement of student voting. Panthers Vote was initiated by UNI’s student government, various student organizations as well as academic departments.

Jill Higgins, the chairperson for Black Hawk county elections, is in her second year of working for the Black Hawk County elections team. “This is my first presidential election as chairperson, so it’s a bit nerve wracking.” 

As Higgins and her team prepared for University of Northern Iowa students to vote, the most unlikely roadblock came about. Students who are in precinct 1, ward 2 went to vote in the Commons Ballroom, just by Lawther Hall on campus. “This morning, We were in the ballroom, and the ceiling fell. So then we moved everything, but nobody was hurt or anything, it was before the polls opened”

Pete Moris, Director of University relations, confirmed the ceiling collapse. “Our facilities team confirmed this morning that a small portion of the ceiling section in the Commons ballroom came down. We don’t have any conclusive cause at present.”

Students at UNI and Cedar Falls natives are voting for their U.S. representative of district 2, which include R-Ashley Hinson, D-Sarah Corkery and Ind-Jody Madlom Puffett. State Senator is also up for grabs, between R-Dave Sires and D-Eric Giddens. 

The polls close at 8 p.m. on election day. The results likely will not be final until the next day in the morning or afternoon, depending on how long it takes to gather and count all of the ballots.