Posted by
Chris Lee Reyes on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 2:27:29 AM
By Chris Lee Reyes
Students have been unfairly labeled with negative connotations for their political awareness. Allegedly, young people are politically incoherent and have indifferent attitudes towards political affairs.For years, most analysts in the upper entourage of politics have stereotyped the young voter (18-29) as an unreliable statistic; unstable in all their ways.
This cliché-ridden theory has been embedded so deeply into common thought, that even the most optimistic person will inevitably fall victim to the chorus of apathy. Yes there has been a slew of bad apples, in fact, it’s possible that a legion of numskulls have infiltrated are campuses and disgraced our forefathers’ plea to partake in the democratic process for the actualization of true democracy. All this being said, from the elections of 2000 to 2004 studies have publicized that youth voting has surged by 11 percentage points. In addition, one can’t help to see the overwhelming number of young people across the nation surrounding the town hall meetings and campaign events of the 2008 presidential candidates.
Whether they support Obama, Clinton or McCain, there is a significant presence being displayed by the most sought after--but least respected-- voter. In Florida, 46 percent of 18-24 year-old citizens voted in the 2004 presidential election (Civic Youth Org.). And young people across all the states in the union may be the determining factor in an already topsy-turvy election. Are there young people out there that feel disenfranchised? Will young people vote in masses? Can students be motivated enough to demolish the stereotype once and for all?
Professor Michael Froomkin, University of Miami School of Law, feels young people will be up to par with every other voter: “I think turnout will be up since people understand that this election matters a great deal.”Due to a slew of relevant issues that are vividly opinionated by students today such as the economy, the war in Iraq and the almost unanimous call for change, it’s unquestionable that young people will be more inclined to storm the polls. In an extensive post election study from CIRCLE, a survey showed that 72.4 percent of students, when asked if they spoke about politics and current events on a daily and/or weekly bases, said yes.
In presidential election years between 1972 and 2000, the turnout rate had been declined by 16 percentage points among young citizens before rebounding in the 2004 election. In 2004 the efforts to mobilize the young vote where extensive; rap mogul Sean Comb’s “Vote or Die” and MTV’s endorsed “Choose or Loose” where two of the major organized ventures that advocated young people to vote. After it was all said and done, only 17 percent (CNN exit poll) of the voters where from the age of 18-29.
It was an increase, but at the same time, most experts where hoping—due to the tight race between George W. Bush and John Kerry— for more of a turnout. This election year may bear more of the same competition. Can this minor but pivotal setback happen again? Many students in MDC feel it won’t.Andrew Cassidy, 20, sophomore, a member of the Students Ethics Association, believes the diversity of the candidates will make a difference “I believe these diverse candidates will animate more turn-out. They will clearly steer our country to a new direction.” “I feel this country needs to change [its] course very fast if not we might be in bad shape…” said 19-year-old Obama supporter Nicole JimenezStudents passionately seek change; few would argue that. However, there are several popular opinions that want to override this notion.
Casey A. Klofstad, University of Miami Department of Political Science, says, “Youths are distrustful of government, and feel shut out of the process… In short, young people are civically engaged, but they do not see politics as a viable venue to express their engagement.”There’s no question that some cynicism has slowly eroded the trustworthiness factor of the election process. Students are well aware of the mishaps of the 2000 voting scandal. And after Gore won the popular vote but lost the election due to the delegate count, some are uneasy about Electoral College system in America.
“I don’t feel the system [Electoral College] should determine who should be president. The popular vote should determine it,” Jeremy Anderson, 20, sophomore.Consequently, some un-registered voters have elaborated on the notion of liberty being taken for granted by some students; this has always been a common concern from the naysayers. “If you don’t vote, you don’t voice your opinion. More students should be aware of the candidates’ policies. I can’t vote because I’m not a citizen, but many out there are [citizens] and don’t vote,” said Carlos Aponte, 22, sophomore. In many countries the freedom and privilege to elect leaders without hindrance, among other inalienable rights, are nonexistent. Nowadays, there is an influx of countries through Latin America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe that have not seen the full effect of liberty. Immigrants fleeing these afflicting regions of the world take all measures, including life and death scenarios, to make it to American soil and assure their family’s freedom.
In Kenya, heavily disputed elections have increased ethnic violence and elevated the death toll up to nearly 800 in the last month. In Saudi-Arabia women still don’t have the right to vote. Elections in North Korea are non-competitive, with a single unopposed candidate. And while China, the Republic of Laos and Cuba are constricted by communism, the privilege that young people have in this country has not been fully valued. Hopefully that small portion that feels indifferent will look at these scenarios and feel privileged to be American and have the liberty to voice their hearts desire without getting beheaded.Ultimately, the desire for change will be able to drive the majority of young voters to the polls.