The Youth, BKA the No Shows

By: Phylicia 

We learn from statistics that the 2010 midterm election was no different from any other midterm election.  There was a low turnout as usual and most people between the ages of 18-24 stayed at home.  This year only 41.5% of eligible voters actually voted.  That number isn’t too much different than any other past primary election.  Research shows that the youth vote is the most difficult vote to get.  President Obama’s campaign thrived on young voters.  Before the Obama movement, 18-24 year-olds were basically ignored by politicians.  Barack Obama unquestionably made sure he motivated college students to go out and hit the polls during the 2008 Presidential Election. 

The Obama movement was unlike any campaign ever run in history and it made his run for President a success.  Why weren’t some of Obama’s tactics used to motivate youngsters for the 2010 midterm elections?   In Obama’s home state of Illinois, where the Democrats suffered a mighty blow, the significance of motivating youngsters should have been clearly conveyed to Alexi Gianoullious.  After all, Obama did endorse Gianoullious.  Were the lines of communication slashed?  Shouldn’t Gianoullious have known that getting the vote of the young people in down state Illinois was detrimental?

The younger generation showed up and showed out at the polls in 2008.  2010, the majority of them were no-shows.  As President Obama might say, they were “Sha-lack-ing.”  Was the low voter turnout rate due to a lack of motivation?  Multiple individuals under the age of 24 have mentioned how many attack ads they’d seen on TV.  These ads weren’t geared toward what the candidates could do for the individual.  From many discussions with young people, these ads did nothing more than discourage the them from going to the polls.

Of course, if you’re not interested in the elections and finding facts about these candidates, you’re not going to branch off on your own and do research.  Unfortunately, people are lazy and have their own lives and agendas.  If you want youngsters to consider voting for you, you have to mention issues that affect them.   Candidates must reach out to them – especially to youngsters who could care less to begin with.  You have to make it clear as to what you’re going to do for them or like Obama’s campaign, just guarantee them change.

Students are concerned about their future. They’re worried and thinking at this rate how will I ever make it out my parent’s house.  Many are frantic, impatient and upset.  Economic recovery seems to be one of their main focuses.  Like most young people who think they’re invincible, the youth don’t seemed to be concerned with healthcare.  They’re young; the last thing they’re worried about is seeing a doctor at a low rate or for free.  These kids want to know what’s going to happen when they graduate college and haven’t found a job.  

Most students have loans and for many, six months after graduation, loan companies will be expecting their first payment.  These students and recent graduates are looking for a reassurance.   Many have lost hope.  Some graduates say they never thought they would have graduated with a Bachelors degree only to work at the local grocery store.  Many say those who didn’t go to college are better off at the moment.  At least the non-college students have worked their way up to managerial positions in the four years the college students have spent in college. 

At this point, a lot of young people are still new at this voting thing. They have not become committed voters yet.  In ‘08, many were influenced by their parents and the enthusiasm of the Obama campaign.  Two years later, many youngsters still haven’t discovered the power of exercising their right to vote and the power of voting consistently. 

Maybe some youngsters voted in opposition of the Democrats because they were expecting the Obama administration to act a more expeditiously with the notion of change.  After two years, maybe the impatient students thought change would have already trickled down to a city near them.  Unfortunately, the majority of people haven’t seen too much change for the better.  Things are more stable now but many haven’t given it enough time just yet.

Another factor that deterred young voters for hitting the poles is that many of them say they just don’t understand how politics work and they admit they’re uninformed.  They don’t understand by not voting they make it harder for the President they voted in favor for two years ago.  When he loses the majority in the House of Representatives it only makes it harder for his party to pass laws and he’ll have to deal with more Republicans challenging him taking focus off other issues. The 18-24 age group hasn’t been told that not voting is a setback more than anything.

History tells when the country is in crisis the youth always votes.  This was seen during Vietnam and during the recession in ’08.  It seems as though they voted because their age group was directly affected.  During Vietnam, they didn’t want to go to war and in ’08, they needed jobs – two great reasons to make it to the poles.

There’s also a difference between youth voters who are college educated and youth who didn’t attend college.  A study shows that 85% of the youth who attend college believe voting is important whereas 73% of non-college student believe it’s important to vote.  It doesn’t seem like too big a difference until you realize the majority of young people haven’t been to college.

18-24 year-olds in Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin participate the most when it comes to elections.  Many people attribute the high turnout rate to the convenience of voting in these states.  In these three states, if need be, voters can register and vote all on Election Day.  This sounds perfect for a person who’s undecided or blowing in the wind.

According to youngsters, the main reason they do not vote is because “it’s just one vote.”  Numerous people under the age of 24 have been interviewed and they honestly believe that their one vote does not matter.  They fail to realize there are millions of people in their age group who have this same mentality.  If the youth consistently vote like they did in the 2008 Presidential campaign, they’d be dangerous.  If the youth changes their mentality, they could change America.