Vitally important for young people to vote

In America, when a person turns 18, they earn the right to vote for government officials. Because our government makes such a huge impact on our lives, it would be obvious for every person to vote, right?
Well, evidence suggests differently. In 2012, the state with the highest voter turnout was Minnesota, with only 75 percent of the eligible population voting. This percentage is high only because there was a presidential election that year. Even more shocking is the fact that only 58.5 percent of Americans age 18-24 votes, while 78.1 percent of Americans age 65-74 votes.

In 2012, only 56 percent of Noble County voted. These percentages decrease on years in which there is not a presidential election. It is vitally important for people — especially young people — to vote; we are the future of America.

So why don’t young people vote? Research suggests that many people feel that their vote will not make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Imagine if everyone felt this way. Nobody would ever vote.
Another reason that young people shy away from voting could be that they feel intimidated by voting. This could be caused by their perception of the government and all things political. Also, many young people are uneducated about politics. My suggestion is to do the research so you are informed about what is happening in the government that regulates our lives.

We have the right to vote because it is a way for the public to have a say in the government, which is what our country was founded on. People have died to protect our right to vote. So why wouldn’t you take advantage of this right?

So, make your voice heard this year in Noble County. The stakes are too high not to vote. On May 6, go to one of the eight new voting centers to make a difference in our community. Visit nobleco.squarespace.com/election-results to find out the location of voting centers in Noble County.

-Samantha Williams, MYAC City Council Representative

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWS SUN, MARCH, 2014