2008 Woodie Awards
Why Some Vote and Some Don't
A Look at Voter Apathy
Sarah Tanyhill
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: Opinions
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Move out of the way America, the polls have just opened and everyone is rushing to cast their vote. Yeah, right. According to statistics only 50% percent of Americans between the ages of 18-24 are registered to vote and only 33% of those Americans actually vote. I have no room to criticize because I myself don't vote. Before the voters of Rollins throw stones, hear me out. I've recently turned 18 and this upcoming election is the first one I am of age to vote on.
Now that I am allowed to vote, will I? I don't know. For some reason I didn't have a huge urge to rush out to the polls and cast my vote. I'm not well informed about any of the issues and don't really read up on any of the candidates, or listen to any of their speeches. According to the political ads Jim Davis is always missing in action and Crist will raise taxes. I know that is not enough information to make an educated vote. I conversed with people about the last presidential election and the majority of them that voted for Bush regret that decision.
Even though this vote isn't for the presidential election, the question "What if I vote for the wrong person," still lingers in the back of my mind. Not everyone who votes is well informed. So I asked people within my age group, "How do you know who to vote for?" The majority of the teens I asked told me that they vote for their political party. I then asked, "How do you know what political party you are?" All but one said something along the lines of, "It's my parents' political party" and the other person said, "To vote for any other political party would be stupid."
These weren't convincing enough reasons for me to vote, so I went out and asked others from my age group, "Why don't you vote?" The answers I got from these individuals were fairly similar. Three people said they don't vote because they don't have transportation. That wasn't a good enough reason for me. Now-a-days people can vote without leaving their house all they have to do is mail it in. One person responded, "All government is evils so it doesn't matter who I vote for, it will be the same person. The government just ruins the economy and makes things worse." That could be true, but if I don't vote I'd have no right to complain.
Now that I am allowed to vote, will I? I don't know. For some reason I didn't have a huge urge to rush out to the polls and cast my vote. I'm not well informed about any of the issues and don't really read up on any of the candidates, or listen to any of their speeches. According to the political ads Jim Davis is always missing in action and Crist will raise taxes. I know that is not enough information to make an educated vote. I conversed with people about the last presidential election and the majority of them that voted for Bush regret that decision.
Even though this vote isn't for the presidential election, the question "What if I vote for the wrong person," still lingers in the back of my mind. Not everyone who votes is well informed. So I asked people within my age group, "How do you know who to vote for?" The majority of the teens I asked told me that they vote for their political party. I then asked, "How do you know what political party you are?" All but one said something along the lines of, "It's my parents' political party" and the other person said, "To vote for any other political party would be stupid."
These weren't convincing enough reasons for me to vote, so I went out and asked others from my age group, "Why don't you vote?" The answers I got from these individuals were fairly similar. Three people said they don't vote because they don't have transportation. That wasn't a good enough reason for me. Now-a-days people can vote without leaving their house all they have to do is mail it in. One person responded, "All government is evils so it doesn't matter who I vote for, it will be the same person. The government just ruins the economy and makes things worse." That could be true, but if I don't vote I'd have no right to complain.
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