Raising voter turnout

Michael W. Lenz
Massachusetts Daily Collegian (U. Massachusetts-Amherst)

AMHERST, Mass. (U-WIRE) ˜ Engaged in a political conversation with one of my classmates this past week on my cell phone, the conversation went like this:

Classmate: I am really worried about the conflict in Iraq.

Mike: I know; it is a tragedy; a lot of people have died.

Classmate: I am very concerned about the crisis, since it is people our age who have died. I wish I had voted in the last election. I was 18, but I didn't feel like my vote mattered.

According to the website Moveon.org, in the 2000 presidential election between then Vice President Al Gore and then Gov. George W. Bush, 51 percent of all Americans participated. Seventy-two percent of males and females age 55 and older voted. Thirty-six percent of voters between ages 18 to 24 entered the booths.

Recently, Joe Klein, a columnist for Time magazine, entertained an audience at the University of Massachusetts. Klein's prevailing message that day was directed at the men and women of Generation Y. He urged those in attendance to participate in politics. He pointed to the apathy prevalent in both the 2000 presidential race and the 2002 congressional elections.

Imagine, for one moment, if the 18 to 24-age bracket made up 15 percent to 20 percent of the total voting population, as opposed to 7.8 percent in 2000.

Theoretically, if young people made their presence felt at the polls, we (Generation Y) would have the ability to elect leaders who will represent our best interests.

Some will argue it is merely a utopian ideal that the 18 to 24-age bracket will suddenly emerge in the democratic process. However, it is entirely possible to return to the heights of the high voter turnout of the 1960s and '70s. In order to do so, several hurdles must first be cleared.

Klein argued that in the post-Vietnam era, young Americans began to feel disenfranchised from politicians. Beginning with the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., voters felt like they lost the two fathers who came to represent the central issues relevant to them: Vietnam and civil rights.

With the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops in Indo China and the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement came a change in public policy. In the '80s and '90s, politicians focused on domestic issues such as welfare, social security and campaign finance reform. While those platforms are important to a large percentage of the population, they are not as pertinent to America's youth.

The administration's handling of the war in Iraq could have the same political impact on Generation Y, as it did on the men and women during the Vietnam era. Like Vietnam, it is our youth who must pay the ultimate political price. If one is upset with the current leadership, then he/she should feel compelled to bring forth a list of grievances via-vote.

Another hurdle that has yet to be solved is the voting process itself: many young Americans complain going to the booths is "a hassle" or that they don't really understand the differences between the candidates. As for voting itself, one should feel a sense of satisfaction after completion of the ballot.

Determining which candidate to vote for can sometimes be a challenge for one who is not engaged with the political process. However, this should not stop you. Beginning with six to nine months before an election, visit the respective candidates websites and educate yourself about the candidate's platform.

For the uninformed voter, a newspaper is also a good place to start. However, avoid newspapers and news stations with a bias. Good publications include the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe and CNN.

The men and women of Generation Y could emerge as a force in American politics if these hurdles are conquered. If the campaign of Howard Dean, a

Democratic presidential candidate, is any indication, voter turnout among the 18 to 24-age bracket could skyrocket from the sad turnout of 2000. The 2004 election is crucial, as our nation will sit at a crossroad.

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