By SERIAH SARGENTON
Staff Writer
The elections are finally approaching an end, and many are concerned with the well being of our country.
Today will be the day that all U.S citizens will be given the handle to execute their civic responsibility by voting for the next president of the United States. Local offices and issues have a direct impact on college student’s home and their school community, and it is important that today students understand how important it is that they get out and vote. Officials make decisions on topics such as student debt, funding for higher education, diversity in schools, and unemployment.
“As of April 2016, an estimated 69.2 million millennials (adults ages 18-35 in 2016) were voting-age U.S citizens- a number almost equal to the 69.7 million baby boomers(ages 52-70)…Both generations compromise roughly 31% of the voting eligible population.” According to the Pew Research Center.
For State University of Albany(SUNY) chair and professor in the political science department and women’s gender studies, Julie Novkov, she believes that young people should use their voice in order to get the political system to focus on the issues that matter to students.
Novkov encourages students to inform themselves before making any conscious decisions.” We’re in a time were it is easier to learn about these situations. There are tools and resources that students can use, and that they should utilize.” Novkov said.
In addition, there are a lot of SUNY organizations and clubs that encourage students to vote, and the political science department host debate shows to help mobilize students to vote. The two most active clubs on campus in regards to politics are the democratic and republican clubs. The two organizations talk to students about various issues from both candidates and encourage students to vote.
Much like SUNY Albany, the College of Saint Rose has been encouraging students to vote through the entire election. Walking through the events and athletic center halls there are posters that say the slogan “go vote”.
Despite the many resources being provided, “one of the problems is that is is very possible to be in an ideological bubble” Kovnov said. Many college students rely on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter as their source of news. A solution Kovnov provided for this is that students watch the differing views of their social media friends.
“If a young voter can build and sustain a movement, then they can definitely get themselves out there” Kovnov said.
Business major and junior SUNY Albany student, Christian Perez spoke about his feelings on voting and why he chose to vote in this year’s elections. Originally from the Bronx, Perez feels as if his vote doesn’t matter.
“I don’t think voting will matter no matter what. New York City was never a swing state in the slightest, and unless votes are counted by hand, I cannot trust my vote.” Perez said. For him, voting means to accept the responsibility he has as a single individual.
“Honestly, no single drop of water is gonna feel responsible for the flood, at the same time we need all the drops we can get” Perez said.
Perez wants to see a change in the higher intuition budgeting because the higher the prices, the more loans students have to get from financial aid. If he wants to see this change then he has on obligation to vote in tomorrow’s election. “Like if I want to be invested in a Canaanite I have to vote for them” Perez finally stated.
Perez is not the only student who feels as if their vote won’t matter in the elections. College of Saint Rose freshman Riain Flynn is voting in the elections despite his opinions.
“We didn’t have the feminist movement and civil rights movements to not vote. Take advantage of what other few countries have.” Flynn said. He is aware that not every vote gets counted, but he cannot stand by and do nothing.
“I waited 18 years to vote. Despite the candidates I have a duty as an American citizen and I need to fulfill them” Flynn said even though he feels as if college students votes won’t matter anyways.
Kovnov explains that many students such as Perez and Flynn feel like this because “young people, including college students have some of the lowest voting participation rates. This encourages politicians to not pay as much attention to their interests, which in turn leads young people to feel disaffected, and disengaged, and to be less likely to vote.”
College students may make up the smallest percentage of active voters, but they have the biggest impact on modern day politics. If you want your voices heard then go out and vote.
“That’s really important for everyone’s future” Kovnov said.
