For the past three years, the North Carolina State Board of Elections has denied Appalachian State students their on-campus voting site, from fear that college students tend to vote more liberally than any other age group. But change was in the air for 2016, and the ASU on-campus early voting site has been restored. Starting March 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union, students, faculty, staff, and community members have the opportunity to cast their votes for the primary. Students also have the opportunity to same day register for early-voting. Anyone who is not registered and would like to be, can walk into the student union and fill our a voter registration form. Now I bet you're all wondering, why should I even vote? Here are 12 reasons why you should go out and cast your vote.
1. It's your constitutional right.
Thanks to the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments, there can be no stipulations based on race, gender, age, or ethnicity when it comes to voting. Young people, women, and under-represented groups spent decades unable to vote, don't give up what they fought hard for.
2. Political participation!
Only 60% of eligible voters vote in presidential elections and it only declines from there for state and county elections.
3. HELLO...we're college students!
How many times have we complained about needing educational materials? We vote to find a representative to fight for us and for education.
4. Bust a stereotype...or two or three.
Don't let older generations belittle ours. We’ve been treated our entire lives as though we don’t actually know what the hell is going on in our legislature, it's time to prove that this generation has power.
5. It's your future.
When you're done with school and start job hunting, you'll want job training, pay equity, fairness in hiring, and workplace safety. That all comes from who we elect as our representatives.
6. The environment needs our help.
ASU students should all understand how vital our environment and ecosystems are, we have the power to elect representatives to fight for those causes.
7. It's your money.
The county commissioners, governor, state treasurer, legislators, President and members of Congress you vote for will decide how to spend your money. Vote for those that agree with your point of view.
8. Establish your credibility.
Often times, we voice our concerns to elected officials, but if we aren’t voting, our concerns may not matter at all to them. Voting can actually give you the credibility to make your concerns a top priority for legislators.
9. Make your own choices.
Don't let someone make the choices for you, because if you don't vote, someone else will. Our government was designed for citizen participation, so if you don't vote - other people are going to make the decisions for you.
10. No Vote = No Opinion
Vote so you can complain with integrity.
11. A young voice is still a voice that deserves to be heard.
Regardless of age or experience or even knowledge, every young person should see that voting is how change is made.
12. A really cool sticker.
If none of the reasons listed above motivate you to go to polls for early voting, maybe the really cool sticker that says, "I Voted!" will. You have the power, so use it wisely.
I remember stepping onto Appalachian's campus in the fall and seeing a plethora of apathy towards voting, and I knew then I wanted to help fix it. Don't be the stereotypical college student who chooses to not vote, because by doing that, you give up your right to have an opinion. Choose to be the educated individual who goes proudly to the polls and utilizes a right our forefathers thought we deserved.
