There is still a little over a year until the presidential election, so why is it even relevant to discuss voting? Well, the disinterest of voters is one of the biggest issues in America, and it often isn’t discussed until it is too late. The 2014 midterm elections are the perfect example, as it was the lowest voter turnout since World War II. However, the worst part is that this outcome wasn’t surprising, as the percentage of eligible voters who had voted had been steadily decreasing since 1964 when it was nearly at 50 percent.
The question is how to change the pattern. If the voter turnout is constantly decreasing what can be done? Well, the really important piece that is missing from the equation, the thing that has the ability to create a drastic change within the government, is young voters. While the turnout of voters has decreased overall, the amount of voters ages 18-34 is only at 23.1%, which is a large drop from the next closest group, ages 35-44, at 37.8%. This is a huge issue, not only because of the lack of representation for the needs of our generation, such as affordable colleges and universities, but also because of the sheer hypocrisy of some people.
Everyone complains about how things are, whether it be the minimum wage, access to affordable healthcare, or climate change, but you shouldn’t complain if you didn’t vote. If you did vote and things didn’t go your way, fine, shout it from the rooftops. But a person can’t complain about the way things are without trying to change them, and voting is one of the most important ways that you can make your voice be heard. Yes, I understand that not everyone in this age group could vote in the last midterm election but that is an exception and it doesn't mean that everyone in that age bracket is going to vote in the upcoming elections. Some people worry about voting for the wrong person, but isn’t it better to vote for the person whose views are most similar to your own, rather than sitting back and watching your least favorite candidate win? Okay, how about the people that “don’t care.” You’re saying that you don’t have any opinion on anything that the government controls or regulates? I find that extremely hard to believe.
It is about time that the younger generations stepped up to be heard because who gets voted into office in 2016 is a big deal. It’s time to start caring about what is going on in the government, because it affects all of us and it is not hard to find out what the candidates are saying that they will do. A simple Google search can provide a mountain of information in just as much time as it takes to pick the right profile picture. So this election, before it is too late, let’s look at the voters, let’s get people involved, and let’s try to change the things we don’t like, rather than just ignoring the problem.
