Lezly Macias is the first person in her family to attend higher education. She hails from Boise and is the child of two Mexican immigrants who never received more than a primary school education. She is now the Director of Community and Civic Engagement for ASUI at the University of Idaho.
Her position requires her to provide students with information and resources regarding voter registration, absentee ballots, and identification required to vote on campus.
Macias is very excited for November to arrive. This year, she turned 19, and in 2024, she will vote in a presidential election for the first time.
“Being able to use my voice at the polls is very important. Not only is it my future, but it’s everybody else’s future,” Macias said.
She believes it is very important for young Americans to vote and use their voices to make change around them. Macias feels that her vote in particular can help represent those who cannot vote in this country, including her parents.
“I’m doing this so that way those that cannot vote can, in a way, can participate and kind of encourage those that can vote,” Marcias said.
Here on campus, a problem arises for students who are not from the state of Idaho and want to vote.
Last year, the Idaho legislature passed Idaho House Bill 340. This bill eliminated the use of a student ID as identification for voting in the state of Idaho. According to the Idaho Legislature website, this bill was signed on April 4, 2023, and came into effect on July 1 of the same year.
This means that out-of-state students must get an Idaho driver’s license, ID, passport, or concealed carry license to vote in Idaho.
Dr. Connie Brumm, a board member of the League of Women Voters in Latah County, shared some of the frustrations and hoops to jump through for out-of-state students who wish to vote.
“There are some people that are going to not vote because they don’t want to jump through the hoops of getting an Idaho ID,” she said. They want to keep their Montana driver’s license or their Arizona driver’s license, which they were able to use before as long as they could prove that they lived here, which you can do, but now you have to have an Idaho ID.”
This hurdle can make out-of-state students turn away from voting at UI. However, this doesn’t completely stop them from voting. The League of Women Voters is dedicated to helping students without Idaho IDs either find a way to vote in their home state or guide these students to get Idaho IDs.
The voting process on UI campus is actually very accessible to those who meet the requirements.
“The polling place for students is at the Student Rec Center. I don’t see how it could get more physically accessible,” Brumm said. “Not only is that building right on campus, but it’s also accessible for disabled people. In Idaho, the process of registering to vote and voting is easy. It’s easier than most states.”
Louise Davison, another board member for the League of Women Voters and a participant in local and federal elections since the 1970s, shared some advice for young Americans who are unsure about voting.
“If you have never voted before, it feels huge. But once you have voted, you realize it’s a very simple process. It’s not complicated. It’s safe and secure,” Davison said.
Davison has been a poll worker for the past few elections in Latah County and was surprised by how easy and secure the process is. She emphasizes the importance of voting by pointing out that many elections have come down to just a few votes.
She also recommends that young voters use the website vote411.com as a resource to learn about candidate’s views and positions on certain subjects. Candidates write prompts themselves, making the resources as transparent and bi-partisan as possible.
“It’s a very good source of information for people who are unsure about who’s standing for what,” Davison said.
As the seasons change and the 2024 election looms, many Americans are expected to turn to voting booths to exercise their right to choose. While students like Macias wait in anticipation for November to arrive, many UI students may feel uncertain about their role in the election.
Dr. Brumm shared some words of encouragement for these students.
“This is the one thing you can do to make a difference, whether you feel like it or not,” Dr. Brumm said. “It matters, and it makes a difference. And you are your own future.”