10 COVER
POLITICAL PARADOX
YOUNG VOTERS ARE UNAWARE IN ONE OF THE MOST POLITICALLY ACTIVE AREAS IN THE COUNTRY
Most states don’t have this election; we are one of two states that hold the governor’s race in this odd year. For 60 something so important, not enough 50 people show up.” Local elections attract even fewer voters than state elections. Through immense media coverage, national and even state policy is often glamorized, overshadowing the monumental importance local legislation to daily life. “What I always try to preach to my students is [that] the presidential election 49th district candidate Alfonso Lopez speaks to Hayfield volunteers. Photo by Minh Vu always gets the most By Staff Writer Annaliese Grunder involvement and Co-Editor-in-Chief Maggie Markon media attention, Managing Editor Julia Napier but don’t our local and state officials The middle school lecture hall was have way more of an bustling late on the evening of Thursday, impact on our day Oct. 12. Government students in to day lives?” Zywiol sophisticated outfits hurried around said. “What we see the expansive room, collecting question is this correlation cards and holding doors open for arriving of higher voter community members. Candidates turnout during the for the Virginia House of Delegates presidential years roamed, conversing with supporters and and lower all the Candidate Vivian Watts gives her opening speech advocating for their various platforms. on Oct. 12, 2017. Photo by Minh Vu way down to our The forum commenced with seven school board. [At] candidates engaging in an educated gubernatorial election. Fairfax County, our school board election just a couple debate about controversial topics such being the most populated county in months ago, only around 10 percent of as climate change, gun control and the state, played an integral role in both Fairfax County showed up-- to me that affordable housing. elections. But these elections are not is kind of a pathetic number. Don’t you This was the eighth debate held only significant for state policy-- they think that the school board member has during this election season by the Fairfax are the first major response to the 2016 way more of a daily impact on your life League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan presidential election and also arguably that what the president does?” organization that encourages a politically serve as trial run for the 2018 midterm Even in an area chock full of political active community. elections, when most seats of Congress influence, the younger demographic of “Anytime you can hold a community will be challenged. event that can bring different people to “Fairfax County is always going to be For something the school who maybe don’t come here the bellwether for the whole state. This is so important, or don’t have kids that go to school a historically liberal area of the country not enough people here is a good thing, especially doing and of the state,” Zywiol said. “Since this show up.” something [that] is a hallmark of a is an off year election happening right democracy: a forum or debate between after the presidential election, I think - Doug Zywiol candidates,” History department chair it sends a signal to the country about Doug Zywiol said. “We were honored to what people think about the president voters is still largely outnumbered by have them host their debate here.” one year after the start of their term. You older generations, a problem magnified Municipal voting took place on are always going to have presidents and during state and local elections around Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, with all seats of former presidents and national figures the country. Without proper voter the Virginia House of Delegates being weighing in on this election because, in turnout, many beliefs held by younger contested along with the widely disputed a way, it’s a referendum on their policies. voters are not well represented, yet many
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