ITS

TIME
TO
SPEAK
UP

In less than four weeks, Americans

will make decisions up and down
the ballot that will impact the future
of our communities, our state, and
our country. For many, this will be
their frst time voting. More and
more millennials, people born afer
1982, are old enough to vote this
year. In 2008, 41 percent, or 39 mil-
lion, millennials were old enough
to vote. Tis year, millennials will
number 58 million making up a
quarter of the voting age population.
Unfortunately, if the past tells us
anything, they will make up a much
smaller percentage of voters than
25 percent. According to Te Cen-
ter for Information and Research
on Civic Learning and Engagement
(CIRCLE), 67 percent of eligible
voters who were 30 years old and
over turned out to vote compared
to 51 percent of voters under 30.
Breaking it down even further, only
48.5 percent of eligible 18-24 year
olds cast a vote -- many of which are
college students. Why are younger
voters less likely to vote compared
to other age groups?
One of the biggest reasons that
young people do not vote is because
they dont register to vote at the
same rate as older adults. Accord-
ing to CIRCLE, in 2008, 84 percent
of 18 to 29 year olds that registered
to vote actually voted. Te problem
is that young people dont register at
the same rate as older age groups.
To change this we need to get
young people the information they
need to register and then to vote.
For many in this age group, they
have moved from home to go to
school in a new community where
the rules may be unclear to them.
Tey may be unaware of the voter
registration deadlines, what forms
they need to fll out, where to get
those forms, or how to submit them.
What they should know is that
according to a 1979 Supreme Court
ruling, students have the right to
register and vote in their college
community. Tey can also choose to
vote back home by absentee ballot.
Not only do they need informa-
tion on how and where they can
register to vote, but once they do
register, they need information on
how to cast a ballot. For students,
they may be unaware about rules
for voting absentee. If they choose
to vote in their new college commu-
nity, they may not know where their
polling location is, whether they can
vote early, or what ID, if any they
need.
How your voice
will impact the future
By Jessica Smith
I was infuenced by
my parents opinion,
but Im ready to
establish my own.
59%
OF ALL
VOTERS
ARE
BETWEEN
THE AGES
OF
18
&
29
2 out of 9 people
associate with one
single party
of voters between the
ages of 18 & 29 say
they are NOT voting
20%
Of course this year, weve also seen
some direct attacks on student vot-
ing, apparently for partisan gain.
Rather than promoting democracys
most cherished right, some politi-
cians have helped pass laws to make
it harder for students to register and
vote and by requiring IDs that stu-
dents ofen dont have.
Fortunately, a number of these
laws are being overturned in the
courts, but students must overcome
the confusion sewn by the laws pas-
sage regardless of court decisions.
Fortunately, a number of these
laws are being overturned in the
courts, but students must overcome
the confusion sewn by the laws pas-
sage regardless of court decisions.
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