Voter Participation Amongst College Students
Low voter turnout is a persistent issue in the United States election process, my interviews of 10 college-age students who were eligible to vote in the 2012 presidential election gave me new insight into the decision-making process citizens go through when deciding whether to make a trip to the ballot box or avoid their polling place.
My first interview subject was Stacie Hansen, a senior Exercise Science major at Indiana University. She did vote in the 2012 presidential election, and cites the fact that she “was finally of age” as a primary motivator. She goes on to say that “we should be able to voice our opinion on who runs the country… not every country is allowed to vote for their leader.” Pride in our democratic system of government is another motivating factor for Hansen. She recognizes that the right to vote is a privilege not every country is privy to. This fact gave her extra incentive to cast her vote and make her voice heard.
Hansen also stated that “in hindsight, I wish I had not voted, because I did not spend much time reading and trying to understand what each candidate stood for. I voted without being informed, which is worse than not voting at all.” Uninformed voters can make the election process unpredictable, and many end up voting for candidates for superficial reasons entirely unrelated to the candidate’s presidential qualifications and stances on important issues. Hansen candidly recognizes that an uninformed vote does not contribute to the betterment of our country, and reveals that she wishes she had not voted in the first place.
Helen Karsiotis, a senior Mathematics major at New York University, summed up what many Americans probably think when debating whether to vote or not. “I did vote… I chose to vote because it’s not too difficult, and even though I only have a tiny say, all votes add up and I wouldn’t want an election to go badly and know I just couldn’t be bothered.” This sentiment of “it’s not too difficult” was echoed throughout the course of my interviews.
The next step in getting citizens engaged with the voting process is to move the process online. The voter turnout would increase exponentially if voting was as easy as going to a website and making a selection. While security concerns prevent this from becoming a reality in the near future, advances in technology could create a secure way to vote online in the years to come.
TCNJ senior Emily Lane, a Speech Pathology major, states that she voted in the last election because “it’s important to make your voice heard.” This sentiment is another one echoed by my other interview subjects. Most subjects who voted recognize that their vote does matter. While one vote may not necessarily change the outcome of an election, if the entire country had the mindset that their vote mattered and acted accordingly by participating in our democratic process and voting, voter turnout would increase dramatically. It is clear that encouraging the populace to embrace this mindset is a necessary step in the uphill battle to increase voter turnout.
Nate Stone, a senior Physics major from The College of Wooster in Ohio, had a unique view on the process: “While my vote doesn’t really count for much, there’s also a social pressure to vote. In my friend group, if you don’t vote, it’s a problem.” Social pressure is definitely a factor in mobilizing eligible voters who would otherwise rather avoid their precinct and spend their time doing something else. That being said, it’s important to respect the wishes of those who do not wish to vote for whatever reason. If someone disagrees with each candidate on a fundamental level, they may decline to vote for anyone running. That is a perfectly acceptable reason for not voting.
TCNJ senior Caitlin Donohue was also candid about her participation in the last election. She states, “I did not vote in the last election. In all honesty I was too lazy to go physically there to vote. I also didn’t think my vote would count, but I do plan to vote in this election.” Donohue’s response once again highlights the need for online voting. A large portion of eligible voters do not go to the polls because of the time commitment involved. Giving voters the option to sit in their home and cast their vote would dramatically increase participation, and it is something we need to work toward as our technological ability continues to grow.