Look around at the students in your 30-person class. According tostatistics, only about nine of them will votein the next election.
The ability to vote is a treasured right of many Americans.However, it has been commonly disregarded by college students.
According to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, there arealmost 1.5 million registered voters in the county. However, only 69percent of those registered voted in the last presidential election.
A survey conducted by the Harvard University Institute of Policy,found that 32 percent of those aged 18-24 made it to the polls forthe 1996 presidential election.
Vince Hall, who teaches a class on communication in politics, saida reason for this deficit could be that college students are busy;they are taking classes, trying to get their homework done, trying tohold down jobs and trying to have a social life.
Many students on campus agree with Hall.
“It is hard to find time to find out who I want to vote for whilekeeping a job, studying and going to class,” public administrationfreshman Martha Castorena said. Castorena is almost 20 and is not yetregistered to vote.
However, Hall said that despite these reasons, students shouldstill make an active effort to participate in politics.
“Students need to use the power that they are entitled to ascitizens in a democracy and the power that they all too often choosenot to use because they can’t find the time or the means to do it,”Hall said.
Political science professor Nancy Brown said voting is a right anda duty of citizens. The U.S. Congress reacts to the will of itscitizens; if it does not know the will of the people, it can’t reactto satisfy it.
With participation comes “ownership,” a feeling of nationalism,Brown said. Nationalism is necessary for the state to survive.College students are usually at their most liberal point and can actas a catalyst for change.
The concept of the public voice is basic to democracy. If collegestudents do not raise their voices, others will. The others may nothave the same views, lifestyles or concerns as those attendingcollege and preparing for a professional lifestyle, Brown said.
Political science sophomore Laura McGann is a student who believesvery strongly in getting involved in politics.
“I have a lot of values and beliefs that I stand for strongly,”McGann said. “I think one of the most valuable ways of showing yourcommitment to your beliefs and values is to vote, because that is howyou impact society.”
If more college students voted, then politicians would be moreaware of what college students want and what they need, McGann said.
“If they want politicians to care more about them and theirtuition and getting more grant money, then the answer to it is simple– more college students need to vote,” McGann said.
Hall breaks up citizens into two categories: those who complainand do nothing, and those who complain, get organized and bandtogether with people who share their views to create positive changethrough the political process.
“I have more respect for people who vote wrong than for people whodon’t vote at all, because at least the people who vote wrong arefulfilling their civic responsibilities in a democracy,” Hall said.
Many students don’t realize the power they have with voting,McGann said.
“People in a lot of countries fight for the right to vote. We haveit free, and I think that people just don’t realize how great thatis,” McGann said. “People give up one of the best rights that Americaoffers.”
To register to vote in San Diego County, sign on to www.sdvote.com.
