Young People are the Missing Link in American Politics
by Terianne
Matthias Burnett, Pastor, during a sermon in 1803 said, “Look well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust.” As United States citizens, we have a right and civic duty to elect officials who make decisions for us.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 64.9 percent of the total population was registered in 2008. Of that percentage, only 58.2 percent of the population voted in the General Election. Only 44.3 percent of young people, ages 18-24, reported voting; while 53.4 percent of the age group was registered to vote.
Within the age group of 18-24 years old, 56.6 percent of women in that age group reported voting, and 41 percent of men in the same group reported voting. These numbers are small for people between the ages of 18-24, and most would agree that this age group has the least turn out to vote on Election Day.
In a blog posted on npr.org about the importance of the youth vote, the youth are called the “missing link in American politics”.
The importance of voting comes from the numbers above. The less people show up to vote, the less the American voice is heard by the elected officials.
According to massvote.org, People who participate in voting carry benefits over those who do not participate. “Among the most studied are that voters are known to be more engaged in other activities like volunteering or contacting their election official. They are more informed about local affairs and a contributor to their neighborhood’s “social capital”,” quoted from massvote.org.
Those who come out to vote are more informed. This is another aspect of being an active voter: knowing what the issues are.
Sarah Cappo, William Jewell College senior, talked about the importance of being an educated voter. It’s important to know one’s own beliefs, then do research to find a candidate who fits within those beliefs, Cappo said. For example, don’t vote republican just because your parents do, vote for who matches with your ideals, Cappo said.
One of the issues Cappo is passionate about is how student loans will be allocated and what will happen with the entire program. “It’s important for us as young people to have a voice in a decision that affects us so much,” Cappo said.
Please check out the websites below for more information on the importance of voting as a youth in the United States.
http://www.civicyouth.org/quick-facts/youth-voting/
http://www.massvote.org/the-importance-of-voting/
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/socdemo/voting/publications/p20/2008/tables.html
To find out when voting polls open in your state, please visit http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G12/PollingHours.phtml?format=g.
Being an uneducated young voter this really seemed interesting to me. The facts are surprising because everyone I graduated highschool with was registered to vote. I am very interested in the topic Cappo was referring too and the article made me think that I should start to form my own opinion because after I graduate college am I still going to call my dad and ask who to vote for? Probably/ Hopefully not. The only thing that makes me think that voting may be a waste is that, if you are a republican in a democratic state ,or vice-versa, does that vote even count, most states don’t switch political sides and just seems that the vote is cancelled out. But what do I really know about politics.
After being in a political communication course this year, I felt like I have become more educated on politics (hopefully). This year will be the first time I vote in a Presidential Election. I have more closely followed the campaigns and debates because I want to pick who I personally feel the best choice is. I don’t want to go in to a vote blind or naive about important issues. I believe it is so important for our generation to vote as well as be informed.
I was very interested in your article, Terianne. Especially because this year is an important election year for our country. GO VOTE!