3 Reasons Young Voters Don’t Vote

From the world refugee crisis to the digital privacy battle between Apple and the FBI, there are a lot of big issues on voters’ minds. Our next president will have a huge impact on the future of our nation. He or she will lead us “for better or for worse” until four years do us part.

But as the big 2016 election draws near, there is also a big concern among college campuses. And no, it’s not just Open Carry laws. The concern is voter turnout.

Take the State of Texas for example. The United Census Bureau estimates tell us that 19,841,344 Texans will be eligible to vote in the fall 2016 election. But voting trends show that less half of these Texans will actually make it to the polls. This number is even lower among voters ages 18–24.

So what is keeping young Americans apathetic and at home?

There are a few theories floating around: one being that voters don’t feel there is anyone worth voting for. The present options of candidates are so dismal, voters “can’t even.”

Reality is: you can even.

Even if you do not like the candidates running for president, you can’t pretend they plain ol’ don’t exist. One of them is going to be president, and as a U.S. citizen it is and your right and your responsibility to decide who is best suited for the job.

I’m On a Boat

Another theory concerning why young voter turnout is low: the “I’m on a boat” theory.

As Americans, we love our independence. So much so, we often forget we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We live like we are out on a boat, cruising through life with our own rules.

Truth is, yes, we are individuals and in possession of our own will, but we are also part of something bigger. This connectedness implies certain responsibilities. We don’t have to vote, but we do have to pay taxes, send our kids to school and follow the speed limit. We are subject to governing authorities. As a civil society, there are rules we must follow and then there are rulers who create and enforce them.

It is easy to feel removed from the election. Washington, D.C., is miles upon miles away! But what happens there greatly impacts our everyday lives. We don’t live on boats. We live on one big island. Independent, yes, but also interdependent.

Too Much TV

A third theory on low voter turnout: we watch too much TV. We care about reality TV more than reality. We rather pick up the phone and vote for the next American Idol than vote for America’s next president. We’re so used to being “entertained” even our news channels blur the line between what’s fact and what is fiction.

Enough already! Our political candidates may seem like entertainers, but they are more than characters on a screen. We must maintain our critical thinking when watching the debates. We must take our research for the next president past channel surfing or browsing our Facebook newsfeed. It is time to stop being entertained and start being informed.

Turn Out For What

Women’s rights,

immigration,

global warming,

veteran services,

animal cruelty,

prison reform,

student loan debt,

deforestation…

We each have different reasons we head to the polls. Comment below and let Medium readers know what you are turning out for.

Ready to rock the vote? Look up your voter information or register to vote online. And remember, you’re not on a boat. You can even. Get informed.