Voting is an integral part of the democratic process. A democratic republic cannot function properly without the participation of its people, and those who are able should exercise their right to vote this November and in every election held in their districts.
In an effort to increase voter turnout among college students, dozens of universities across the U.S. have begun their own voting registration drives. This year, Northwestern University registered almost 95 percent of eligible incoming freshmen in an attempt to increase voters. At Harvard University, dormitories hold competitions to register the most voters. At MSU, student organizations have gone door to door in residence halls or set up tables around campus to aid in voter registration in East Lansing. Voting is a privilege for Americans, as many countries around the world still do not offer their people the right to elect public officials through a fair democratic process. And in recent years, colleges have made an effort to make registering easy and quick, so there really is no excuse for not being registered. But those who have registered to vote now must voice their opinions this November by casting a ballot.
According to data estimates from the Center for Information and Information on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, less than half, or 48.5 percent, of Americans between ages 18 to 24 voted in the 2008 election. This is an increase of voter turnout within this age group since 2004, when only 46.7 percent of these voters went to the polls. College voters not only should challenge themselves to vote at a higher margin this year, but encourage their friends to do the same.
Each of the candidates have distinct visions of where they would like to take this country in the next four years. Each has created specific plans for how he will rebuild our economy and deal with issues at home and abroad. These men could affect the future of MSU’s students, so regardless of which candidate a student agrees with, he or she should schedule time to cast a ballot this Nov. 6.
Students who are registered in their hometowns should go through the process of obtaining and casting an absentee ballot. It is true that many students are busy with school and work, but filling out an absentee ballot only would take a few minutes, and students still would have the opportunity to voice their opinion and be involved in the voting process.
Merely casting a vote is not enough. Students should know why they are voting for their pick, not just for president, but for senatorial and congressional elections as well. Being an educated voter allows students to be more deeply involved in the democratic process. Before heading to the polls, students should research the candidates on the ballot and decide which better reflects their views.
The voter registration deadline already has passed, with many students taking advantage of the opportunity and privilege to be involved in selecting their representatives for their state and for the White House.
Registering to vote is not enough, though. Students need to cast an educated vote for this November’s election, whether at the polls or using an absentee ballot. Students can make an impact on the direction of this country, but they need to exercise their right to vote in order to do so.
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