Government officials and student organizations will aim to get students at the University of Memphis registered to vote during National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 25.
Although millennials are the second-largest generation in the voter pool, young people still cast fewer votes than older generations, according to a Pew Research Center study from June 2018.
Members of the U of M’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity encouraged students to vote during their “Why Register, Why Vote” event Monday in the University Center Atrium.
Dane Norvell II, a member of the fraternity, said they wanted to educate students on the importance of voting and get them involved with the election.
“Most times when people are registered, they don’t vote because they don’t know who to vote for,” Norvell said. “So that’s what were trying to do. We’re trying to get people registered to vote and let them know who all is running.”
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is visiting colleges and universities across the state in recognition of National Voter Registration Day to help get millennials involved. Hargett will be a special guest at “VoterPalooza” in front of the Ned R. McWherter Library from 4 to 7 p.m.
“My goal is to help make sure as many eligible Tennesseans as possible take part in our election process,” Hargett said in a press release. “It is great to meet with the young men and women on our college campuses who are registering to vote for the first time. These are the future leaders of our state, and it’s exciting to see them engage in and being excited about the political process.”
Millennials had the lowest turnout rate of any voter age group in the 2016 elections at 51 percent, with Generation X being the next lowest at 63 percent, according to a Pew Research Center study from April 2018.
The voter push comes during an unusual voting season where the Tennessee democratic and republican United States Senate candidates, Phil Bredesen and Marsha Blackburn, respectively, are even at 46.5 percent in the race for one of two Tennessee seats in the U.S. Senate, according to political news website RealClearPolitics.
Michael Sances, a political science professor at the U of M, said the midterm election turnout is always strikingly lower than Presidential election turnouts. However, for Tennessee particularly, Sances said this year may be different.
“In Tennessee, we might have higher-than-average midterm turnout because we have both a competitive gubernatorial race and a competitive race for one of our federal Senate seats,” Sances said. “The campaigns will expend considerable effort to generate interest and motivate people to vote.”
Eric Groenendyk, another political science professor at the U of M, said this year’s midterm election turnout could be much higher due to citizens’ emotional states.
“Since emotions are currently running so high in American politics, and voter mobilization efforts will be especially intense, I would expect turnout to be a bit higher this year,” Groenendyk said.
Groenendyk said citizens’ individual stances on a particular issue, person or law has “turned some people off to politics” and caused some to become more interested. He added that the more relevant question is “Who is now involved in politics (compared to previous eras), and what is motivating them to get involved?”
The Shelby County Election Commission will have teams avaliable Sept. 25 to assist people in registering to vote at several local parks. Anyone who is eligible to vote can attend the events and register at Audubon Park, Charjean Park, Douglas Park, Heroes Park, Johnson Road Park, Oakhaven Park and Polly Williams Park.
