Youth and voter are two words that do not always go together. Low youth voter turnout has remained stagnant during the past 25 years, according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Over the years, some candidates have pursued the youth vote, but some young adults still argue they are not given enough attention.
In recent years, voter turnout in America has plummeted, but it is most significant among youths. In the 1996 presidential election, citizens between ages 18-24 made up 32.4 percent of the vote. Since 1972, the percentages of citizens of the 18-24 age group who voted in presidential elections have gradually decreased.
There is a significant difference in the number of young voters who register and those who vote.
In the 1998 Congressional election, out of 25,537 possible voters of the 18-24 age group, 10,014 registered (39.2 percent) and 4,251 (16.6 percent) voted.
In the November 2000 elections the numbers increased slightly. Out of 26,712 18-24-year-old voters, 45.4 percent (12,122) registered and 32.3 percent (8,635) voted.
Biology major Jena Joneis, 20, said she is registered in five states but did not vote in the 2000 presidential election nor is she planning to vote in this year’s election. She said she is not voting because she feels the candidates have not addressed issues that affect her.
“None of the candidates is doing anything in the interest of education,” Joneis said.
Finance major Jaime Osborn, 23, will be voting for the first time on Nov. 5. He said the only reason he is voting in this election is to vote in favor of the lottery. Osborn said he registered at age 21 but has not voted until now because he has not been interested. He thinks the reason many young adults do not vote is because they do not keep up with politics, they are too busy or they just do not care. He thinks many young adults think their vote does not really matter and that the politicians are not working for them anyway.
“Our political system is just a show,” Osborn said. “It’s all mud slinging and character debates. No one talks about issues.”
Assistant professor at The University of Memphis William Hixon said that 18-year-olds voted at a lower rate after the 26th amendment was ratified in 1970 to make the voting age 18.
“That usually happens when new groups are added; rates are low because the group has not had enough time to get into the habit of voting,” Hixon said.
Hixon said he thinks a major reason why young people do not vote is the lack of issues that excite young adults about politics.
Hixon did offer a reason why the national voter turnout for all ages is lower than in many other countries. He thinks one reason is that America holds elections on work days and many other countries hold them on Sundays or make election days national holidays. Some countries require their citizens to vote.
Organizations, such as the Center for Voting and Democracy, Youth Vote Coalition and Rock the Vote, are dedicated to ensuring that every vote counts and encouraging young people to vote and be active in politics and their communities. These organizations also educate young adults across the country about politics and voting.
Freshman Joy Metcalf, 21, has been voting since age 18. She thinks the reason why many young people do not vote is because they do not realize how political decisions impact their lives, and they think their vote does not mean anything.
Metcalf said if candidates spent more time addressing issues that affect young adults, more people would vote. She said politicians do not try to get the youth vote because they think young people are fickle and easily swayed.
Metcalf also said how important it is for youths to be educated early about government and civic involvement.
“Schools should do more to teach young people about the government, voting and their participation in it,” she said.
Junior African-American studies major Gerald Harris Jr., 20, has also been voting since age 18. His parents worked in state government, and he was educated about the government throughout his life, he said.
“Voting is a way for youth to express their feelings on issues,” Harris said.
Harris concurred with others who said the reason some young people do not bother to vote is because they believe their voices are not heard.
“I don’t like it when people complain and then they don’t vote,” Harris said. “That is a bad attitude to have if you don’t even know how the government works.”
Harris said if candidates spent more time visiting high schools and colleges, young people would feel better about voting.
Harris added that being involved in civic life begins with becoming educated about it.
“It is very important to vote,” Harris said. “It starts with education, which starts at home.”
