The presidential election is sure to bring voters to the polls, but many first-time voters will be casting their vote in the coming days. Two such voters are musicians Scotty Werner and David Stephens.

Werner is in a band called With Wings of Lead, and Stephens is in a band called We Came as Romans. Both bands recently played at The Hideaway, a popular local venue near ETSU’s campus, the first stop of their East Coast tour.

Werner, an 18-year-old from Detroit, Mich., said he is voting because he is finally old enough. The issues that are most important to Werner are the war and problems with the economy.

Because Werner believes the U.S. troops should be taken out of Iraq, he has decided to vote for Barack Obama. Like many people his age, Werner has friends who have gone to Iraq. The war is the most influential issue to Werner. He says his parents do not influence him because they do not vote.

Werner trusts Obama to follow through with his promises. He also believes that Biden is a good candidate as well, and if he must take power as the president, Biden will lead the nation well.

“[Alaska Gov. Sarah] Palin does not have enough experience,” Werner said. “She should not be a heartbeat away from running the country.”

Stephens, 20, also from Detroit, will be voting for Obama in November. When asked, he said, “Isn’t everyone under 30 voting for Obama?” 

Important issues to Stephens are the economy and trying to get out of debt, ending the war, and tax cuts. Stephens believes McCain is going to be another Bush if he is elected. He believes the country needs change and that Obama will be a change for the better.

When asked about the gender and ethnic changes in this election, he believes the country is moving forward, but that some people will consider the color of Obama’s skin.

“It’s sad people are still judging people by the color of their skin.” he said. “That was an issue in the fifties, but it should not be an issue in 2008.”

He thinks that Palin is not experienced enough to hold the vice-presidential candidacy for the Republican Party.

The latest AP poll shows that 60 percent of people age 18 to 29 are voting for Obama, with only 33 percent supporting McCain. The other 7 percent are voting for independent candidates.

Even though Werner and Stephens are touring, they are making it a priority to vote.

“It seems like a good thing to do,” Stephens said. “It’s a right, it’s a civil duty. I wish more people under the age of 30 would vote. There are so many who don’t and that would really affect the election.”