by Norman Halls, contributor
There are a number of reasons why you should vote at election time. I hear from many of you; why should I or does my vote really count and it won’t make difference. First, yes, your vote counts and your vote affect? what happens in the future. By picking the right candidate for the Commonwealth’s legislature that will ensure that education will be funded. If the legislators don’t fund education, the Board of Trustees will raise your tuition. You also need to say, hey Washington pay attention to us. You need to tell them in Washington we are watching you.
According to a report by Best Colleges; “Young voters account for half of the voting population, making them a powerful political force. The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. While young voter participation in 2016 declined by 2% from a record 52% at the 2008 election, today the voting population includes almost equal parts millennials and baby boomers. As the boomer electorate decreases in size, experts suggest it is merely a matter of time before millennials become the largest and most powerful group driving future elections in the U.S. Unfortunately, not all who can vote will, meaning that fewer young people get to directly influence issues that might affect their lives for years to come, including college tuition reform and federal job programs.”
“That future should be progressive. In poll after poll, these voters lean far left of their elders. The bulk of them have registered unaffiliated or Democrat, but regardless of their declared party, they tend toward liberal on every major issue?—?including immigration, the environment, and gun control,” according to a 2018 study by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard University. There are a number of other issues that concern young people: climate change, health care, education and taxes. The Tax Reform Bill has impact on the deficit. Who is going to pay in the long run, young people. The Senate Majority Leader wants to cut health care.
It’s time that more young people be involved in politics. I would like see young people holding office in Washington and throughout the Commonwealth. Their views are much keener to what is needed. The problem is, that older people don’t think they have the experience. From a number of studies, there is much promise to the different kinds of involvement in order to better understand patterns of activism in young adults. Learning about politics and life as a citizen is part of the transition to maturity. During this stage young people in most democracies are introduced to political processes and issues, as well as a range of political activities including voting and participation in social movements.
With technology we are learning about economic circumstances of young adults, which are profoundly changing the process of approaching years. Baby boomers are coming into the 65-year era. The relationship between older and young is important for our society. Pew Research Center found; “On an individual level, of course, many people’s political views evolve over the course of their lives. But academic research indicates not only that generations have distinct political identities, but that most people’s basic outlooks and orientations are set fairly early on in life.”
Young people, we need your energy in every election. This year, 2018, we want you to speak when you cast your VOTE.
On behalf of the older folks – THANK YOU.
