With election day fast approaching, it’s easy to be discouraged. Many people I have talked to express concern over this election and whether we are voting for a lesser of two evils. There is also worry about whether later elections will continue this trend. As I have mentioned in previous columns, we as a society have access to more information than people could have imagined even a few decades ago. However, it seems the power of the Internet hasn’t helped us very much, considering the polarized state of our country right now. There is some hope, however, for the future.
The next generation of voters, high school students, are being influenced by and educated even more about the electoral process. High schools across the area offer courses in U.S. history, government and civics. I have had many lively political discussions on a range of issues in these classes, with good points for either side. These classes foster critical thinking and research, which is essential to an informed electorate. Too often though, young people are dismissed purely on the basis of age. There are many serious issues we have opinions on, ranging from the environment, the national debt, education and so forth. Many bring great arguments and facts to back these up as well. There should be more encouragement, not less, for youth involvement in politics so we can make informed decisions right from the start.
A major problem with this, however, is young people are less likely to vote. With life changes and busy schedules after graduating high school, it can be hard to settle down and figure out where and when you are supposed to vote. This is especially true for out-of-state college students. It’s important to have high participation, especially when younger votes are so critical to the outcome of the election. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, only 49 percent of Americans ages 18-29 voted in the last presidential election. According to their statistics, if more or less young people turn out to vote, it can significantly impact the results of the entire election.
Part of why young people are less likely to vote is also routine. For many, this election will be the first time they are eligible to vote, so it is a completely new experience. Older voters have been participating in elections for many years, and so it becomes a habit. The only way to start a habit is to begin an activity and continue doing it over a period of time. The only way to be a regular voter is to start voting, and that is why I am excited about the Minnesota Students Vote program for 2016.
This initiative, overseen by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, will include hundreds of high schools across the state, including many in the local area. Interested students must first register to vote and then show up on the designated date to cast their ballots. This vote will be purely for U.S. President, but it covers many of the issues I have addressed above. Getting oriented with a registration process is great practice for voting in the future, and as voting is during the school day and not given special time, students will have to find their own time to vote, be it immediately before or after school, or during lunch and passing time. This is a great simulation of the self-initiative needed to go out to vote in the real world.
It also allows for debate within the school about the policies of the candidates and allows us to compare our results to that of the voting-age public. Students Vote results will be published Tuesday, Nov. 1, a week before the elections, with voting ending on Tuesday, Oct. 25. This gives students a chance to talk to their parents about who they voted for and why, further spreading information gained from the process. Most importantly, it gets future voters into the habit, which may serve to push up turnout in future elections.
A strong democracy needs an informed and educated populace. It’s my hope programs such as Students Vote across the country help a new generation of Americans learn the ropes of our age-old democratic process. By learning about the issues and being able to express our views via a statewide vote, we can also signal some of our priorities for the years ahead. More young voters are ready to express their voices. Let’s get them off to a good start.
Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.