Yesterday, 120 million Americans went to the polls. This voter turnout is the highest since the Presidential election of 1968. Although impressive given America’s history of paltry voter participation, one demographic did not rise to the occasion for this election. Unfortunately, this is the bloc of voters between ages 18 and 24.
Despite being threatened with death by P. Diddy, only one in 10 voters were between 18 and 24, according to the Associated Press. This proportion is approximately the same that voted in the 2000 election. Although seemingly the stakes were higher in yesterday’s election, young people did not feel any more incentive to vote.
The reason for this lack of participation is that many Americans between 18 and 24 feel insulated from the issues that affect other demographics more directly. They don’t worry about tax cuts and social security because they do not directly feel the ramifications of such government programs.
Additionally, young people often don’t have established residences, making registration difficult and absentee ballots a hassle.
Are either of these valid excuses? Absolutely not. Young voters may not worry about health care now, but when they don’t have the money to pay for a hospital visit in 10 years, the issue will be far more salient. And although young people may frequently change residences, registering to vote is not hard. Not filling out an absentee ballot is just plain lazy.
Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could potentially exercise a huge influence on the nation. This election was close enough that in swing states like Ohio and Florida, a higher youth turnout could have swayed the outcome. We are simply choosing to ignore our electoral power.
By sitting at home on election day, the youth bloc is turning the fate of the nation over to the most powerful voting bloc: people over the age of 60. How can the youth of America be content knowing that their future is decided by retirees?
War, a possible reinstatement of the draft, health care, taxes: all of the issues in yesterday’s election will influence the lives of every American, regardless of age. People between the ages of 18 and 24 had the power to shape American policy on these pivital issues, but we chose not to exercise it. For the next four years, non-voting American youth have no right to complain. The only ones to blame are themselves.
