The kids these days are always finding reasons not to vote.
The problem is that these “kids” are actually college students, and college students aren”t kids, they”re adults. As adults, they have the right to vote, but unfortunately many students don”t utilize that right.
The excuses students find to not vote are more over-used every year, and few of them are actually legitimate excuses. One of the most commonly heard excuses is that someone believes their vote won”t ultimately make a difference in the election.
This might have a bit more truth to it for larger elections, like the 2016 presidential election, but when it comes to local government elections, every vote counts.
In a city council election, a single vote from a University of Idaho student could be the difference between candidates being elected into office or losing the race.
While voting in and of itself is important, it”s more important to know what these candidates stand for. A vote shouldn”t be from someone who is simply voting for a Democrat to go against the status quo in Idaho or someone who votes Republican because their parents always have.
The fact remains that college students are adults, and we should act like them in this scenario.
Voting isn”t just a right, it”s a privilege. Voters should be willing to take a little time out of their day to do research on the people they”re casting their vote for.
However, the most important thing is that UI students go out and vote in the first place, no matter where they”re from or how much thought they”ve put into the election. In the past couple of elections, the percentage of votes cast from younger members of the population has been low.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement, less than 20 percent of 18 to 29-year-old voters cast ballots for the 2014 election, which is the lowest voter turnout rate for youth ever recorded for a federal election.
If students say they want their vote to make a difference, then they need to get out and vote. If our age demographic makes voting a habit more than once every four years, perhaps more votes on topics such as education will go in our favor.
Although there are no large-scale elections currently taking place, election season has begun. Whether a student is an out-of-state resident or a Moscow native, it”s important they be mindful of when elections are taking place wherever they are registered to vote.
City council elections will be taking place in Moscow Tuesday, and other small-scale elections take place throughout the country around this time of year.
If students are registered to vote, they should utilize the privilege they have. If not, they should make registering a top priority. Voters can register at the polls if they bring a form of identification and proof of residence with them.
Though the 2015 election is more low-key than the upcoming presidential race, it is arguably more important for students to vote today, as the results could have a direct impact on them and the communities they live in.
– EB