Young Adults Need to Vote
America’s youth deserves the right to cast their ballots
Voters casting their ballots during early voting and regular voting receive a sticker on their way out. Many voters choose to wear their sticker the day they voted as well as post various pictures to social media showing others that they completed their “civic duty” and encouraging friends and relatives to do the same.
November brings America another election season. Americans exercise their right to vote during elections, deciding the president for the next four years, which influences America’s direction as a country. However, one demographic needs to consider how to approach this election more than any other- youth voters. As the demographic of voters with the least amount of voter turnout, their voice remains unrecognized in elections.
Electproject.org states about 40% of people ranging from ages 18 to 29 vote during presidential election years, and the number falls significantly for non-election years. Furthermore, according to census.gov and the 2010 census, people ages 18-24 make up 9.6% of the population. Therefore, about 5.76% of the population cast no ballot in elections.
Young adults need to have their voices recognized. They need to exercise their freedom and duty to vote for policies they believe in. Therefore, young adults need to advocate for the school to teach the process of voting, and discuss it in school, and later bring that information with them to the polls.
The issue of low young adult voter turnout ranges from issues including the struggles of voter registration, to inconvenient or inaccessible voting booths, Duke Today found one of the issues begins with school. Since society deems discussing politics in school taboo, education on the voting process often falls short. Without education on the process of voting, and faced with a difficult decision, the prospect of voting makes young adults uncomfortable, despite it being one of their greatest rights and duties as Americans.
Another issue restricting voting includes older adults belittling younger adults, saying they “don’t understand politics” or their “ opinion doesn’t matter.” However, young adult opinions matter regardless. The 2016 election ended with the two candidates within 2 percent of each other (Trump 46% and Clinton 48%). Although electoral votes decided the winner, the percentages states’ votes directly influence the electoral college votes, changing depending on who votes.
Young adults need to vote, not only to influence how an election will pan out, but also to see their values implemented into the government through representation. Even when indecisive, every American needs to vote and make their opinion heard. Their future and America’s future depends on each individual vote. All votes matter, so go vote!
