Even if you haven't been paying close attention to the election over the past six months, it has been almost impossible to avoid hearing about the wacky rollercoaster of a race it has been so far. Nothing has captured this better than the recent exit of Jeb! Bush from the Presidential race (leaving in his wake a greater legacy for his similarity to Panic! At the Disco than his stances on political issues). Bush represented the archetypal candidate of choice for an establishment party: a surname synonymous with political power, a relatively untainted track record and fairly moderate, "safe" positions.
With Bush's downfall, we have seen the unprecedented rise of candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump on both sides of the political spectrum. Viewed over the years as veering too far left to carry significant political heft, Sanders' surge of popularity is somewhat of a phenomenon. Perhaps more shocking has been the saga of Donald Trump, whose presence is the political equivalent of Kanye West winning an Oscar for Best Actor. Frankly, the now very real possibility of the cartoon-like character of Mr. Trump becoming Commander-in-Chief has made me question whether I am living in the Matrix at least a couple times.
The feeling that traditional party politics has become increasingly ridiculous seems to particularly resonate among millennials. According to Pew Research Center, the percentage of registered voters under 30 has dropped by over ten percent since the 2008 election. At the same time, millennials have undergone a similar increase in identifying as political independents. There is a good chance these shifts go hand in hand with each other. Even though technology has given us greater exposure to political news than our parents had, it leaves us with a lingering bitter aftertaste. Since the media tends to focus on criticism when it comes to politics, which we are bombarded with on all technological fronts, this is an almost inevitable result. Cynicism and apathy are pretty much guaranteed to follow.
While we might think political indifference in the face of what looks like a deteriorating system is a reasonable position, there are significant reasons why we should make a serious effort to vote.
Even the disenchanted among us who think their vote is meaningless can't deny that there are practical benefits to voting. Politicians on the whole consistently pay attention to voter demographics. They construct their political positions to primarily benefit those who show up to the voting booths. By shying away from voting, we put our generation in danger of getting the short end of the stick when it comes to the constant rat race for resources.
More idealistically, voting is a highly symbolic act. It is no coincidence that the key legislation passed as a result of the Women's' Rights and Civil Rights movements granted disenfranchised groups with the right to vote--respectively with the 19th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. More than anything, having the right to vote means you are on an equal playing field with your fellow citizens in terms of fundamental rights as a human being. To continue to exercise this right in a reality of political disillusionment reinforces the message to yourself and fellow citizens that we haven't given up on collectively trying to ensure that we live in an ideal democracy. Basic decency should compel us to vote as a simple act of appreciation that you live in a country that recognizes your rights.
Whether you are inspired in a fit of political ecstasy by the words of a particular candidate or are busy raging against the machine, just make sure you are registered to vote this election season.
