Why you should vote: A perspective from a first time voter
It’s time for another round of highly contested national elections, and young people are once again questioning whether their vote really has an impact. Hearing people ask “does my vote even matter?” and “does this election even matter?” leads me to a bleak reality: young people are losing their voice in politics due to a lack of engagement.
As a young person, I understand these questions. I grapple with the fact that these politicians are significantly older than me, and that they are probably out of touch with what young people want to see. There is a profound dissonance between politicians and what first time Gen Z voters want to see done.
Tufts University Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement released a statement with the statistic that there will be 8 million first time Gen Z voters registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election in November. This means that Gen Z could be voting in numbers this year, and that Maryville College students have a chance at being a part of this group of first time voters.
My first reason for voting, as obvious as it sounds, is that it is your first time to vote in a national election. It’s your first time to dive head first into the realm of politics, and choose who you want to represent your ideas for the next four years. It’s exciting, and a little nerve racking, but it’s rewarding to know that you fulfilled a civic duty, and that you can wear the “I voted” sticker with pride. So do a little research on some local and national candidates and take pride in your first vote!
My second reason is that no matter what, your vote matters in the grand scheme of things. It’s so common to fall into a place of hopelessness, especially if you’re voting in places that have a voting history that is opposite to your party or your beliefs. However, your vote is still important in your state. Who knows, your vote might be the one to switch your counties color, or in the cases of swing states, could even determine which candidate wins what state.
My final reason boils down to the fact that these policies will affect us throughout our lives. The older generations won’t feel the effects of whatever comes to fruition during this election cycle, but Gen Z will feel the brunt of these results for the rest of our lives.
All this to say, make your voice heard, make your vote count and most importantly, inform yourselves and vote on issues that matter most to you. Nov 5th is just around the corner, make sure you are registered to vote, and that you have a plan to get to the polls and make your first vote ever count.