3 minute read
Voter Apathy
The 2020 election was a recordbreaking year for voter turnout, with 66.3% of eligible voters participating, compared to 60.1% in 2016, according to the Washington Post.
Of 213 students polled, 85.4% were not eligible to vote, but of those eligible, over half claimed they had intentions to vote. While the percentage of voter apathy within our school was low, the state of Arkansas came in second to last for voter turnout, with only 56.1% of the eligible voting population participating.
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Regardless of the state statistics, many students were more than willing to voice their opinion and vote in their first election. Senior Zak Jones feels that everyone has a duty to make their input heard.
Jones believed that a Biden presidency would mean a failing economy, so Jones voiced his support for Trump and voted with confidence in his opinion.
“I voted for Trump, because I was worried if a Democratic economic plan destroys the economy, people may stop caring about human rights and focus on economic stability,” Jones said. “There will be more equality [while Biden is in office], but it will be paired with a failing economy. No one will care about equality when the money is disrupted.”
Jones also notes the importance of youth voting for the future that they want to see.
“Possibly, the most important [thing] is just to get the ball rolling,” Jones said. “If you don’t vote this year, it’s easier to justify not voting next year. The youth are the ones who have to deal with all the really long term effects of a president. Old people vote, but they already have a life and safety net, so to speak. Youth are about to take out loans and build their life, so they have to make sure they’re helping to build the tomorrow they want.” Senior Brodie Horton, also a Trump supporter, agrees that voting is necessary for everyone, for both the experience and its impact.
“I’ve always been interested in politics, and voting is a part of the democratic process, so I voted,” Horton said.
Horton considers voting a privilege and encourages people, especially adolescents who are able to vote, to take part in the process of democracy.
“It’s important for people, especially young people, to vote, because it’s a constitutional right,” Horton said. “In fact, it’s a privilege to get to vote. In other countries around the world, not everyone in their country gets to vote. Lots of people come to this country just so they can have a say. It’s a great experience and a key role in our country’s democracy. Everyone that can voice their opinion should.”
The 2020 election motivated many to educate themselves and vote for the presidential candidate they thought to be the rightful leader of the United States. An overwhelming majority of students who were ineligible to vote in November claimed they plan to vote once they are eligible. Senior Mia Rideout barely missed the mark to vote, but plans to vote in the next election.
Rideout believes everyone who is able to vote should take part in deciding their futures, as well as the future of the nation as a whole.
While many feel that it is important to vote, AP Government and Politics teacher Will Heatherly claims that students must first learn to care for politics before voicing their opinions on matters.
“If nothing else, becoming engaged and informed makes students connect to the world around them,” Heatherly said. “Learning to care about politics is not like turning on a light. People do not turn 18 and then just become informed voters. Most people who vote at a young age cared about politics long before their first election.”
Heatherly also feels that it is important for those who cannot vote to still be informed, and continue to voice their opinions and help the candidates they support.
Heatherly notes that with his AP Government and Politics students, modern day politics are seen through a shared lens where the goal is to understand each other.
“It is amazing how when people listen to each other, they move past ‘agreeing to disagree’ and move toward accepting others’ positions, because in most cases, there are reasonable people on both sides of every political issue,” Heatherly said. “Everyone who is in the AP Gov class has strong political beliefs, which makes their attitudes and understanding all the more remarkable.”
