By Rebecca Do
I was out with my friend who told me, in earnest, that he let his dad use his vote for the primaries because he, quote, “wasn’t going to use it anyways.”
Maybe it was the spirit of every Political Science major that possessed me at that moment, but I began a tangent on why he shouldn’t be allowing that, and why voting is not only a civic duty but a responsibility he should proudly take on.
If you’re a senior and are going to be 18 by the presidential election in November, pre-register or register to vote, now! Or, if you’re like my friend and can only consume information in verbal listicles, here are a couple of reasons why you should register today:
It’s important to participate in politics early on.
There is nothing worse than growing up and realizing you aren’t a responsible citizen if you don’t know what to expect from the people being elected! From the 2012 to the 2020 election, we have experienced tumultuous elections in our conscious years.
Of course, as a four-year-old, you didn’t have to know what made Romney a better candidate than Obama or vice-versa, but you at 18 should!
Knowing your candidates, the policies you’re voting for and why your vote matters and counts no matter what is paramount in letting your voice be heard in our government.
Diverse perspectives make for a more inclusive society!
According to Tuft University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, young people’s electoral participation was immensely more diverse than in previous years.
Though in the past, young white people have shown to have higher turnout than other races, there has been a spike in Asian voters alongside other young communities of color.
As time flies, our generation and the communities that spawn naturally become more accepting and diverse. When more sexualities, ethnicities and perspectives are thrown into the mix, we are bound to achieve a safe society with democracy accessible to all.
Information is at your disposal — use it!
In a modernized world such as our own, we have the internet at our fingertips. Thus, it’s easier than ever to type, click and research. It’s also easy to look at campaigns and informational advertisements in order to see which candidate really tickles your fancy.
Of course, rely on the most objective and accurate news that you possibly can. Easy access to information through the internet can also be harmful when you don’t know how to navigate it. But once you breach that, you’re golden.
Well now I know why, but how?
If you have a driver’s license, you most likely were asked what your political party was and asked to register as such as well. You can check your voter registration status here. If you are like the many poor, unfortunate souls who cannot drive at 16, 17 or 18 in this day and age, you can pre-register to vote here.
