By AMEARA DITSCHE
Contributing Writer
Most elections take place periodically, meaning that the effects of the results are seen in the future. Since young people are the future, their votes are arguably the most important. Yet, the 18-24 age group remains having the lowest voter turnout.
The youth remain impressionable and are usually much more open minded, which is necessary in moving the country forward.
Regardless of the overall moral argument, voting would do nothing but benefit young voters. When policies like education are so prevalent today, the youth are amongst the most highly affected.
If we don’t vote, we are stuck with a futureof an older generation that was chosen for us. Why let that happen when we have the potential to have the same power?
Many young voters argue that elections are set up so they’re less likely to be able to vote. The polls are usually open during the day, making it easier for retired/older people to vote; and harder for working young adults.
Especially those with unconventional hours, which is increasingly more common among today’s youth.
As someone who goes to college where they aren’t a state resident, it’s difficult to register to vote here. For college students with a low political efficacy, this could be a huge deterrent from voting. But, the United States has a system called absentee ballots.
If you are temporarily somewhere you aren’t a resident, you can mail in your ballot to your district ahead of time. If the all votes aren’t important, why would the government go out of there way to put this program in place?
Relating back to my point about prevalence, the hottest issues are most often youth issues, especially in today’s social media centric society.
We are usually just one tweet away from putting something on a national platform; but that’s not enough. We are the ones who relate to these issues and therefore probably the only ones willing to put in the legwork to make it happen.
It was high school students who marched out of their schools to protest gun violence. The Little Rock Nine were 16 when they became the first African-Americans to attend an all white high school.
The youth of our nation have never been afraid to band together and use that solidarity as power, so what makes voting any different? It’s easy, arguably much easier than marching or protesting.
Not voting can be interpreted as a spit in the face to those who worked to ensure we have the right. People like veterans or immigrant parents.
Today’s young adults have a large first generation American population, and a profound sense of pride for their heritage.
These things along with our high tolerance and even passion for diversity, should be equal to us doing everything we can to take advantage of every opportunity our parents sacrificed everything to ensure we have.
Politics is a game, one played to win. Intense research goes in to catering to politicians constituents. Politicians’ main goal is to be elected, they will do what it takes to achieve that.
They will cater to the people that they believe will vote for them, if young people don’t vote, we are basically allowing politicians to disregard us.
We must not forget that we have a voice. Realizing that is only the first step.
We need to use our voice to promote the change we so often talk about. Actions speak louder than words.
