Voters, young and old, will cast their ballots next Tuesday in the midterm election, and some polls expect the young voter turn out to remain low as it has the past three elections.
Voter turnout in general is always lower in midterm elections, and has been since the late 1800s. A poll conducted by Harvard University through the past year shows a decrease in young voter enthusiasm for this midterm election.
Despite what seems like growing approval for the president, the Democrats and Republicans in Congress among 18- to 29- year olds, the percentage of young people who are likely to vote in the midterm elections is shrinking. Currently, less than one-in-four (23%) young Americans under the age of 30 say that they will “definitely be voting” in the upcoming midterm elections for Congress, a sharp decrease of 11 percentage points since last Fall, according to the Harvard University poll.
Political Science Professors Kathleen and Jennifer Sooy talked about why young voters don’t turn out in the same numbers as senior citizens.
“Many people argue it’s because they don’t have a stake in society, they don’t always own a home, they don’t always pay those taxes,” said Sooy, while explaining different causes that affect young voter turnout.
Voting and registration rates tend to increase with age. In the United States in 2012 only 41.2 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds voted, compared with 72.0 percent of those 65 and older, according to the United States Census Bureau.
The Social Security Administration reports that over 59 million Americans will receive Social Security benefits in 2014.
“Seniors, they are the most reliable voters, they go out and vote because it’s their civic duty, their history, but also because they are more reliant on social programs like Social Security, Medicare,” said Sooy, as she talked about the fundamental difference in how the different generations view voting.
While explaining how many families in the past decades viewed voting as a social event, Sooy said, “It was something we talked about at the table growing up, we did it as a family.
” Young voters tend to focus on issues other than social programs as seniors do, and tend to be more liberal as well focusing on issues like same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization.
“General equality is important to me,” said Sami Scarfo, 18, a marketing major at Sinclair. “I feel like the right to bear arms is also important.”
Briget Baldino, 18, a business major, discussed what issues are important to her.
“Seeing gay marriage get passed, and medicinal marijuana. My mom is epileptic and it helps with seizures. Just seeing that get passed so she doesn’t have seizures all the time,” said Baldino. There can be common ground found between the generations on some issues, such as the economy.
“I’d like to see more economic progress for sure,” said Samuel Richardson, 24, a Biotechnology major. “I’d like government not to be incompetent right now. That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Getting young voters engaged has been the focus of many campaigns in the past, but John Della Volpe, polling director for the Harvard Institute of Politics feels there has been a focus shift.
“Young people need to feel like they’re able to make a difference in order to be engaged,” said Volpe in a Huffington Post interview earlier this year. “Frankly, I don’t think that either the Republicans or the Democrats have really tried to inspire and engage people like they have in the past.”
Education also plays a role in who will vote. Voting and registration rates tend to increase with education. In 2012 the United States Census Bureau reported that the voting rate for citizens with at least a bachelor’s degree was 77.1 compared to 38.0 percent for those who had not received a high school diploma.
“It is critical that you have to be an educated voter, you have to understand the process,” said Sooy as she explained that the education system prepares young people to be educated voters.
“You will be less anxious, less fearful,” she said.
Educating yourself about the voting process will decrease voter anxiety according to Sooy. She urged voters to ask questions at their polling place if confused on the process, or to contact their Senator if they feel the process is difficult or confusing. “There are avenues in our country where you can get these issues addressed,” said Sooy. “Appreciate the process and know what you are dealing with.”
As many local, state and federal elections are decided on November 4, Sooy urges voters young and old to participate.
“If you want progress to be done that will benefit you, then you have to go out there and vote,” she said.