The importance of young voters participating in the election

The election is coming up and now more than ever it is important to vote so the people’s voices can be heard through the representation of America’s candidates. Voting is a hard earned right for all American citizens and it is imperative we take advantage of the opportunities. Photo Courtesy of post-gazette.com

By Emily von Buttlar

Features Editor

The election is coming up and now more than ever it is important to vote so the people’s voices can be heard through the representation of America’s candidates. The 2020 debate occurred on Sept. 29, which gave voters a chance to decide who they want to vote for, and which political views and goals they support. Voting is an earned right for all American citizens and it is imperative we take advantage of the opportunity.

Most political issues affect people within the ages of 18 – 28, which includes the legal voting age of 18. Every vote counts, which is why it is important to form a habit of participation, therefore people will be less likely to skip going to the polls in the future. This is key to driving policy and electing leaders who should represent the needs of voters of all ages, races, and genders.

Many U.S. politicians and influencers across the internet have been encouraging people to vote in the upcoming election. President Trump has attempted to convince residents in Tennessee to vote twice to increase his chances at winning the election, which is illegal. Trump has also refused to give DNA samples that would either confirm or dismiss him in the cases regarding sexual misconduct. He has also not paid his taxes in full over the course of many years, has dismissed the hundreds of thousands of Americans that have died because of the Coronavirus and continues to say the Coronavirus is not real. Also, when a greater amount of the younger voting population vote it increases the likeliness that the community will be heard by politicians.

On the other hand, young voters can be ignorant and non educated on political issues. There is a lot of false information on the internet and their opinion can be easily swayed by their friends, role models or others. Young voters are also not taught in-depth how the government works in school, and people should have an in-depth understanding of the government before they vote and finalize their decisions.

In the last election, only 36% of voters between the ages of 18 and 21 reported voting in the 2018 midterm election. Our voices need to be heard, as we are the ones who can change the path of the future using the election.