Bailey Porter
Editorial Director
In a presidential race that many say will turn out as close as the 2000 presidential election, every vote does count.
That message should be taken to heart by those in the 18-24 age group who, studies have found, are less inclined to cast their ballots.
“The 2000 election shows young people that every vote does count and that every vote needs to be counted,” said Jay Strell, spokesman for Rock the Vote, an organization that targets youth as an important voting demographic.
Statistics show that voter turnout among youth has been declining over the past 30 years with the exception of the 1992 presidential election. While a low 37 percent of voters 18 to 24 turned out four years ago compared to 64 percent of voters ages 25 and older, the 2004 election looks more promising, but young voters are key.
Strell said the outcome of the 2000 election has really engaged young people for this election.
“The level of enthusiasm is more where it was in 1992 with 20 million young people turning out to vote. Rock the Vote is aiming at the same this time,” he said.
Richard Gelm, history and political science chair at the University of La Verne, said media focus on the presidential race deviates from other critically important elections on the ballot like the entire House of Representatives and California Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat, along with state propositions and the California State Legislature.
The state legislature determines financial aid in the form of Cal Grants, an issue close to most college students and a source of a lot of aid for students, he said.
Gelm sites a lack of knowledge about the government and political system as a main cause of voter apathy in the 18 to 24 age-bracket. “Young people don’t read newspapers and watch the news as older people do,“ he said.
“Therefore they are less informed and less encouraged to know about voting.“
But low voter turnout cannot be restricted to young voters.
The United States has the second lowest voter turnout rate in the democratic world, only slightly above Switzerland.
Gelm said barriers to the registration process are partially to blame.
Registration must be completed at least 15 days prior to an election; that is Oct. 18 for this election.
A written request for an absentee ballot must be sent to the county clerk no later than seven days prior to the election.
There are a number of ways to register. Mail-in forms can be obtained at most county buildings like city halls, fire stations, libraries and post offices.
A voter registration request line, 800-481-VOTE, and many Web sites can direct you to voter registration.
Upon registration, a sample ballot is mailed to you along with a poll location near you.
Some out-of-state college students do not find the time to re-register with their new address or think they cannot use the university’s address as their permanent address.
But Strell said it is a myth that students cannot register to vote using their school address.
“The laws uphold students’ rights to decide their permanent residence,” he said.
Students can also vote absentee using their parents’ address, Gelm said.
It’s important for students to educate themselves on the issues, Strell said, but even more so to talk amongst themselves.
He uses Rock the Vote’s tour bus, which is visiting 25 college campuses in several key electoral states, as an example of a way to promote discussion about the issues leading up to the big day.
Gelm said students can easily get caught up on issues significant to the election, even this late in the game.
The Democrat and Republican Web sites and candidate Web sites outline what each party and individual stands for, he said.
Then do objective reading and analysis by reading a daily newspaper, he said.
“Students can get started now reading a good standard daily newspaper and they will be in pretty good shape by the time the election comes around, if they have the desire to,“ he said.
For more information visit www.rockthevote.com.
Bailey Porter can be reached at porterb@ulv.edu.
