In the 1984 United State's presidential election, the incumbent Republican Ronald Reagan campaigned against former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Running with Mondale was the first female vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. Similar to the 2020 United State's presidential election, incumbent Republican president Donald Trump is campaigning against former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate. Running with Biden is the historically significant, African-American, female vice-presidental nominee Kamala Harris. Both the 1984 and 2020 elections share major similarities that makes the comparison of the two significant. In the 1984 presidential election, more than 92 million Americans voted, and in this election, let's hope more than 130 million Americans will vote. See you at the polls!

Born March 15, 1933, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) of Brooklyn, NY flourished in the face of adversity. By Bill Clinton in 1993, RBG became the second female appointed Supreme Court Justice, and she became the front face for gender equality. Ruth herself faced gender discrimination througout her entire academic and legal career. From Columbia Law School to finding a career believed best suited for men, Ruth had to fight harder than any man to be recognized for her intellect. Knowing what is at stake, the notorious RBG continued to argue for gender equality in cases such as United States v. Virginia, where the Supreme Court struck down the male-only admission policy at Virginia Military Institute. It was Supreme Court cases similar to that one that made RBG the leading voice for gender equality and civil rights in America. After serving 27 years as a Justice on the United States Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020. Let her legacy live on forever.

Following the death of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests overtook the world's streets, especially in the United States. On the very streets where the historically significant protests took place, are the historical statues that have sparked a great deal of controversy. Statues of American-Confederate generals, such as the Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Va, are the front face of this debate. Protestors have demanded the removal of such statues due to their history.

American-Confederate generals were generals of the Confederate State Army during the infamous American Civil War from 1861-1865. The Confederate State Army was the land force for the Confederate States, the breakaway state from the United States. They fought against the United States forces in order to uphold the institution of slavery in the South.

Due to the Confederacy's desire to fight for their alleged right to uphold slavery in the South, as well as their failure to win the war, many Americans, especially those active in the Black Lives Matter movement, have argued for the removal of such Confederate statues. This has become a major topic in America's current political climate.

In the United States Supreme Court, if there is a vacany, it is the President's duty to nominate and select the upcoming Justice. Once the President nominates a candidate, the Senate then votes to confirm the nominee. Although there are no specific requirements to become a Supreme Court Justice under the United States Constitution, a Justice must have been trained in law. A Supreme Court Justice, after being nominated by the President and approved by the Senate, can only end their term with either poor behavior and impeachment or by death.

Since the Clinton Administration, the Supreme Court has seen many new faces. Under former President Bill Clinton, he nominated Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the United States Supreme Court.

Under the Bush Administration, the Supreme Court has welcomed Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

Under the Obama Administration, the first Hispanic and Latina member of the Court was welcomed, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, as well as Justice Elena Kagan. Obama appointed two female Supreme Court Justices under his administration.

Since 2016, the Trump Administration has appointed two Supreme Court Justices. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh were the newest members of the Supreme Court. Recently, President Trump has nominated Amy Coney Barrett to be the next Supreme Court Justice that would replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Amy Coney Barrett awaits Senate approval amidst the 2020 Presidential Election.

For the first time in 1960, Americans were able to tune in to watch the presidential debate on live television. At the time, former Vice President Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy squared off in a historically significant presidential debate where all eyes were on them. Both candidates argued rising Cold War tensions, domestic issues, civil rights, and other foreign affairs.

This election in particular ushered a new era of political campaigning and the ingredients it takes to be successful. Public image and media exposure became a significant factor in campaigning, and a candidate's attractiveness played a role as well. Kennedy, having won the presidential election, used it to his advantage to stare directly into the camera, while Nixon would look off to the side. Kennedy, in a newfound light, made himself glow to the American people, with make-up on him to compliment his skin complexion. In contrast to Kennedy, Nixon looked pale, and he, unfortunately, did not light up the room.

This presidential debate, a part of the Great Debates, influenced nearly 50% of voters in their decision. At the time of the presidential election, Americans turned out to vote in record high numbers. Since this election, televised debates have become a staple in the presidential election process. As we see today, the presidential debates can be a major deciding factor for many voters.

2008: Barack Obama vs. John McCain

The 2008 election was historic for TWO reasons:

#1: Barack Obama became the first African-American president.

#2: Joe Biden became the first-ever Roman Catholic vice president.

IF John McCain and Sarah Palin would have won, John McCain would have been the oldest president in history, and Sarah Palin would have been the first woman vice president.

Popular Vote: 69,297,997 (Obama) to 59,597,520 (McCain)

Electoral College: 365 (Obama) to 173 (McCain)

2012: Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney

Romney, the first Mormon to receive a major party’s nomination, and competed against numerous Republican competitors in the primary

The election, the first waged following the “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision that allowed for increased political contributions, cost more than $2.6 billion, with the two major party candidates spending close to $1.12 billion that cycle.

Popular Vote: 65,915,795 (Obama) to 60,933,504 (Romney)

Electoral College: 332 (Obama) to 206 (Romney)

2016: Donald J. Trump vs. Hillary Clinton

The 2016 election saw a new level of dissension among voters. As a former first lady, New York Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first woman to receive a nomination by a major party in a U.S. presidential election. Donald Trump, a New York real estate mogul and reality TV star, taunted fellow Republicans who competed against him AND his democratic opponent.

In what many political analysts considered a stunning upset, Trump, with his populist, nationalist campaign, lost the popular vote, but won the Electoral College, becoming the nation's 45th president.

Popular Vote: 65,853,516 (Clinton) to 62,984,825 (Trump)

Electoral College: 306 (Trump) to 232 (Clinton)

There are many states within the United States that are predictable in general elections. For example, California can be easily identified as a Democratic state, and it is very unlikely that it will vote or turn red in any general elections. However, there are a few states that are known as "swing states." A swing state is a state that is unpredictable in a general election, and they, depending on certain political climates, could either lean Democrat or Republican in a general election.

These states do not see a large majority within either political party. This means that, when politicians go to campaign before any general election, these states are heavily targeted by both candidates representing both parties. Oftentimes, swing states are also known as "battleground states," due to the high intensity of campaigning. Each candidate is trying to swing the state in their party's direction.

Currently, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsion are recognized as swing states. Let's look at the swing states and how they have voted for the past four presidential elections:

The 2004 Presidential Election

• The Swing States: Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

• Who Voted Republican? Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, and Ohio.

• Who Voted Democrat? Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The 2008 Presidential Election

• The Swing States: Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Missourri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

• Who Voted Republican? Missourri.

• Who Voted Democrat? Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The 2012 Presidential Election

• The Swing States: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin

• Who Voted Republican? North Carolina.

• Who Voted Democrat? Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The 2016 Presidential Election

• The Swing States: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

• Who Voted Republican? Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

• Who Voted Democrat? Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Virginia.

In the 2016 presidential election, many Americans were stunned as to how President Donald Trump lost the popular vote but won the presidency. There is a chance this will happen in the 2020 presidential election, so let us tell you about the Electoral College.

As the founding fathers wrote the United States Constitution in 1787, there were many arguments on how the United States President should be elected. After much debate, the men compromised on what is now known as the Electoral College.

As called for by the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is a group of electors that are equal to the total number of represenatives in Congress. Officially, there are 538 Presidential electors who, every fours, come together to give their official votes for President and Vice President of the United States.

The Electoral College was created as an alternative to electing the President based off of a popular vote or by the United States Congress. In doing so, the Constitution left it to the states to decide how the electors will vote.

In most states, the candidate who gets the most votes win the electoral votes for that specific state. Usually, whoever wins the popular vote likely wins the electoral vote as well, but in the 1888, 2000, and 2016 presidential elections, the President did not win the popular vote, but he did win the electoral vote. Whichever candidate wins the electoral vote becomes President of the United States.

If you have voted in the 2020 Presidential Election in the state of Virginia, then you noticed a question about transferring the power to draw the state's congressional and legislative districts. Did you know how to answer?

The question on the ballot is in reference to the Redistricting Comission Amendment.

A vote for "yes" supports transferring the power to draw the state's congressional and legislative districts from the state legislature to a redistricting commission composed of state legislators and citizens.

A vote for "no" opposses transferring the power to draw the state's congressional and legislative districts, thus keeping the state legislature responsible for redistricting.

With the question of drawing a state's congressioanl and legislative districts in mind, so is gerrymandering. In American history, gerrymandering has been defined as the manipulation of drawn district boundaries to create an unfair political advantage for a political party. In Virginia's history in particular, Virginia was one of the most gerrymandered states in the country.

Although racial gerrymandering was found unconstitutional in the U.S. Supreme Court case Miller v. Johnson (1995), states that participate in gerrymandering to benefit one political party over another have not been identified as a federal issue.

The drawing of district lines are redrawn every ten years, and in Virginia today, Democrats, being a majority in Virginia today, are trying to decide if they want to take part in gerrymandering to further benefit their political party, or do they want to aim for nonpartisan maps.

A vote "yes" to this poll question will block legislative efforts to rig the system, whereas a vote "no" to this poll question leaves the possibility of gerrymandering in Virginia's hands.