We Need To Vote

By Shelby McCormick, 19

The number of youth voters showing up to the ballot box is vastly lower than our older counterparts. The voter turnout for ages 18-29 is on average less than 40%, where as the 45+ age demographic consistently has above 60% voter turnout. We are not using our voices and taking part in our civic duty to help ensure that policies and poltications that will benefit our communities are being put in place.

GRAPHIC CREDIT: Dr. Michael McDonald, University of Florida Department of Political Science http://www.electproject.org/home/voter-turnout/demographics

And our numbers tend to keep dropping. While this graphic does show all states, and some do have growth, negative change in voter turnout is much more common among the younger age brackets than the older. In fact, the 65+ bracket is seeing huge increases in voter turnout, South Carolina had 124% increase. We, the youth, can make those changes too.

The moral of the story is this. We are not voting, and we should be. A lot of us our feeling the fire within us. The fire for change. The fire to do better. But we also don’t always know how we can help. This is a very simple way to help. Vote policies in that will bring change for the better. Vote for candidates that will put in the work and work for you. Vote out the old politicians who have been in there way too long and no longer even show up but just have their votes cast for whatever the majority is. If we band together and start voting, we will be heard. The powers that be will want to appeal to us and do the things that will get us to vote for them. But right now we dont make up many of the votes, and our voices are not being heard. But we can change that.

Below or links to voting resources for every state. Most if not all of the web pages have the link for you to register to vote along with other important information. Project vote smart can also help you find information on candidates to help you make informed decisions. So go! Register! Vote! I believe in us. We can create a better tomorrow.