In light of the executive order on immigration implemented by the new administration, many now feel as though they are more politically active, according to an informal poll of University of Georgia students and local Athens residents conducted last week by JOUR 3190.

While they may feel politically engaged now, not all of those interviewed felt the same way during the election. Of the 12 people interviewed, three did not vote in the recent presidential election.

“If I actually want to vote and make an impact, I want to have information to vote,” said Amelia Grace Wolfe, a 19-year-old student from Augusta. She did not vote in the presidential election because she was out of town and missed the deadline to fill out an absentee ballot.

Another interviewee, Ike Astuti, a 35-year-old student from Indonesia, did not vote because she is not an American citizen. Although not immediately affected, Astuti thinks it is common to see disagreement among the political parties but believes both need to come from a place of understanding.

All interviewees said they were either at the same level of political consciousness or more aware than they had been prior to the election.

“I have definitely continued to monitor the election since it has happened,” said Robert Poole, a 25-year-old law student from Marietta. Poole believes he is generally more aware because he is a law student.

The same three people who did not vote also claim to not be more politically active. Others, such as sophomore Keaton Law, are participating in demonstrations against the actions taken by the new administration.

Law, a history and political science major, said he attended the March for Immigrants at the UGA Arch on Feb. 3 and the protest against the executive order on immigration at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Jan. 24.

“It’s a good thing for people to rally around what they believe in. It’s important to challenge what you oppose,” Law said.

Many were aware of the demonstrations against the new administration, but some, such as Stephen Tyler, a 24-year-old Athens resident, were only aware of them either as they were happening or after.

Tyra Roberts, a sophomore finance major, said, “Prior to this election, I feel like a lot of people weren’t really engaged in politics but I think we’re realizing if we don’t use our voice and actually speak out, this is what can happen.”

Roberts is referring to the executive order on immigration, banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Students conducting the interviews posed five questions to determine who voted in the presidential election, whether they were more politically aware, more politically active, were aware of demonstrations against the administration, how they felt about them and if they participated in any.

Although a majority of those interviewed were in favor of the protests, some said they were a bit skeptical.

“Demonstrations are great, but they lose their purpose if they don’t cause any actual change,” Riley King, a 25-year-old Athens resident said. He does not participate in any demonstrations.

Likewise, Eloise Rodgers Hancock, a 65-year old Athens resident, believes that although people have the right to protest peacefully, they should keep demonstrations “cool, calm, and collected.”