The midterm elections sparked unprecedented political participation in an off-year and many TCU students were swept into the frenzy.

Students and other voters took time during the past two weeks to cast ballots, encourage others to become involved and in some cases campaign for a candidate. Whether through conversations at tables set up on campus or via social media, students challenged the notion that they aren’t civic-minded.

Senior strategic communication major Cristi Menendez encouraged her followers to vote when she posted her Instagram story this morning. She even included the fact that Lyft, Uber and Lime were offering discounted rides to polling stations.

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Menendez said her creative posts were a way to remind people of one of the biggest freedoms we have as citizens, having a stay in how our government is run.

Sophomore Mary-Opal Burnham said students should vote even if they aren’t up to date with all of the issues.

“I don’t believe it’s that important to be educated because you choose your political party and stand by them when you vote straight ticket,” Burnham said.

TCU alumna Lou Ellen Cole has been working as an election greeter in state elections for six years.

Cole said she was surprised by the amount of people at the polls today. “Early voting was so heavy, I was expecting no one to be here, but it is really steady,” said Cole. “There was a line when the election judges were here at 7 a.m.”

Cole believes that voter turnout is higher because of what happened in the 2016 presidential election. “They are voting in response to Trump’s presidency,” she said. “His discourse has been so negative and people realized they want a change.”

Cole noted the high number of young voters they have encountered in Texas. She attributes this to Beto O’Rourke’s push to appeal to young voters.