Many young voters remain apathetic about elections

Many+young+voters+remain+apathetic+about+elections

Story by McKena Metzger

With presidential debates in recent headlines and a major election on the horizon in 2016, many college students remain uninformed about voting.

“The fact that not a lot of folks do think about it concerns me,” Instructor of Business and Economics Paulette Schwerdt said. “My generation isn’t always going to be around to vote. Then what happens?”

The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement projects that only 41.2 percent of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24 will participate in the 2016 elections.

Freshman Freddie Barnes has not registered to vote because he doesn’t believe the outcome will affect him.

Freshman Chris Oetken, however, believes voting is his way of fulfilling his duty as a citizen. Oetken falls into the low percentage of young, active registered voters.

Interest in particular issues differs from generation to generation and may have a direct impact on the turnout of younger voters. Americans aged 18-25, by a majority of 69 percent, agree that the government should do more to solve problems, compared to only 41 percent of those who are 65 and older. All generations agree that the economy should be the nation’s primary focus, but concerns about health care and national defense vary.

Assistant Professor of International Studies Ryan Gibb believes that the lack of education given to young adults contributes to the lack of activity. Gibb said some students “simply don’t know how to register or how to become involved.” He has started a politics club on campus that invites students to gather and become better educated.

“It is important for young people to see how much of an effect they can have as opposed to what they are giving right now,” Gibb said.

The Economist explains that young people often do not feel they have much of a stake in society. The magazine says, “Having children and owning property gives (you) a direct interest in how schools and hospitals are run, and whether parks and libraries are maintained.”

Today’s college students likely will wait until later in life to settle down, buy a house and have children. In 1970, the average American woman was not yet 21 years old when she first married. Today, the average age at which a woman marries is 26.

Yet another perspective, and perhaps the most depressing, is that many young people don’t think any candidates are worth voting for. When charismatic political figures do appear, they can win over the young. Barack Obama would not have been elected had it not been for the remarkably high youth turnout in his favor.

The Economist states that few politicians create this much charismatic appeal. In most elections, the simpler strategy for candidates is to win over the older voters who will vote no matter the qualifications of the candidates.

“Young people – who tend to be more cosmopolitan, liberal and hopeful than their elders – tend to be switched off by the negativity and cynicism of election campaigns targeting the unhappy old,” The Economist states. “Sadly, cynicism breeds cynicism.”