2015-2016

Shape Tomorrow by Voting Today

Joseph Fotopoulos, Editor|April 21, 2016

Voting Season

2016 is the year of the monkey, according to the Chinese Zodiac, and the year we will elect a new President of the United States. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8, and is the 58th presidential election our country has held. A new president and vice president will be elected, because our current president, Barack Obama, has reached his two-term limit. Presidential primary elections, which determine a political party’s presidential nominee, are taking place between Feb. 1 and June 14.

Candidate-Collage — 2016 Presidential Candidates

How can I register to vote?

To register to vote in New Jersey, you must be an 18-year-old United States Citizen that has resided in a particular county for 30 days prior to the election, and you must NOT be currently serving a sentence, probation or parole due to a felony conviction. If these criteria are met, you can complete a voter registration application (Click here for a direct link to a .pdf file). You can also find this form at your local post office, library, or other public service building. The form must be completed and mailed or delivered to the County Commissioner of Registration, or Superintended of Elections for your specific county. NOTE: The registration deadline to be eligible to vote is 21 days prior to an upcoming election. The NJ primary election is on Tuesday, June 7, so the deadline to register is on Tuesday, May 17. The general election’s registration deadline is on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Sample NJ Voter Registration Application

Why your vote matters

The youth is arguably one of the most important voting demographics in America. Young voters make up 20% of the voting population, but not all that are eligible to vote end up voting. The 2004 elections showed that 70% of people ages 45 and up voted, while only 47% of people ages 18-24 voted.

The beliefs and needs of older generations differ from younger ones, and a disproportionate voter turnout runs the risk of skewing legislation away from the beliefs and needs of the youth. Fewer young people are unable to have direct influence over serious looming contemporary issues, such as the exponential inflation of college tuition and lack of jobs. If the youth want candidates to represent their needs, then they need to overcome their voter apathy and cast their vote into the ballot box.

A common gripe expressed by young people is the belief that their vote does not matter. This is the polar opposite of the truth. Every single vote counts. President Obama may not have been able to win without the popularity of young voters. He gained a large margin in important states with the help of the youth vote. A plethora of elections have come down to just a few hundred votes, so everyone’s vote, including the youths’, matters.

Another issue faced is the worry about making an uneducated vote. People may have no prior knowledge of candidates and will cast their vote based on word of mouth or the preference of their friends and family. We are fortunate enough to be able to easily overcome this situation by use of the internet. Websites including social media, YouTube, and even the candidates’ own pages provide more than enough information to anyone seeking knowledge about politics, however, make sure to be mindful of the content you find. Filter out the opinionated blogs written by disgruntled authors with no official campaign involvement, and look for verified pages such as @HillaryClinton on Twitter, the official C-SPAN YouTube page, and https://www.johnkasich.com. This information will not only educate voters on the upcoming election, but also provides them with the ability to stay involved in political processes for the future.

Young voters are the most diverse age group in America. Over 39% identify as people of color, and this number is ever increasing. Encouraging such a diverse group to go out and vote allows a demographic to make the best decisions for all walks of life in America.

On a final note, it is our secured right as American citizens to participate in politics. Having a healthy relationship with politics from an early age is vital to the future of our country. Making it a habit to vote will allow us to elect leadership that practices equal representation of all voter generations. Electing a new mayor, senator, or president may not currently affect your life, but it definitely will in the future. Adult challenges such as paying for healthcare and loans will arise, so make early political decisions that will make your life easier later. Take the initiative to shape tomorrow’s world by voting today!