NEW VOTERS

| FEATURE |

NEWVOTERS

ALAINA MAY | STAFF WRITER

College students already have enough to worry about. We are expected to simultaneously pass exams, hold down a part-time job, socialize with peers, and take part in clubs and extracurricular activities. As if that wasn’t enough, we will, all the while, be making decisions that will inevitably affect the rest of their lives.

So why vote? Why take time out of an already overloaded and hectic schedule to participate in a political system that, no matter the year, seems to entirely consist of perpetually intensifying issues? Issues whose solutions are never agreed upon anyway?.

According to Hendrix College Politics professors Dr. Kim Maslin, Dr. Kiril Kolev, and Dr. Delphia Shanks, the benefits of voting in federal and local elections far outweigh the inconvenience of registering to vote and going to a polling station.

Dr. Maslin, a professor in Politics and Department Chair at Hendrix, strongly holds that college students should participate in their local government. Not only to remain up to date on current affairs, but also to become an engaged citizen of their state and country.

“You can vote on campus. There’s a polling station over in Worsham,” Maslin said. “It doesn’t have to take a lot of time out of your day. You can wander over there and vote in between classes, you can vote on your way to lunch, you can vote as you’re getting done with lunch.”

Dr. Kolev, an Associate Professor of Comparative Politics at Hendrix, understands voting hesitation and the perspective that, in the wide world of government, one person’s vote may not cause change. However, he also recognizes that remaining aware and conscious of the current political situation is crucial for any American citizen. “...if voting also prompts us to be more informed and engaged in between elections, it has all sorts of positive spillover effects that contribute to having a more engaged citizenry.” Kovel said. “We often focus on the former role of the vote and get really focused on winning and losing. I believe understanding voting as a broader and more spreadout activity of deliberation and getting informed throughout an electoral cycle highlights its value to a greater extent.” Associate Professor of Politics, Dr. Shanks, explained that involvement in politics can be more than simply voting. Effective ways for a person to make their voice heard can include attending protests, donating to causes you support, and calling local representatives to express any concerns or suggestions you may have. “People should start participating in local government as soon as they are interested and able.” Shanks said. “I think that [voting] is a really important form of civic engagement. There is no reason to wait to be involved in your community and support causes that you believe in. I don’t think there is too young of an age to be civically engaged and aware of what’s going on in the world.” As young adults, people tend to have values that vary from those of older generations. Those older, ironically, are the ones who are meant to represent every person’s best interest, no matter their age. That is a leading reason why it is so important for young adults to make their opinions known. “Young voters are taking different stances on issues than older voters.” Maslin explained. “Young voters tend to be more [concerned about] LGBTQ issues than older voters. Young voters are ranking abortion and women’s rights higher on their list of concerns than older voters. They are less, in general, concerned about inflation than older voters are. Those preferences should matter.” Hendrix students, particularly, have easy access to various forms of learning and participating in local government. The Young Democrats club at Hendrix aims to provide students as well as faculty and staff with opportunities to learn about and develop an interest in local and federal politics. Former President of Young Democrats, Garrett Collier, likes to keep an open mind about varying political views and gathers information from nonpartisan sources. “Young Democrats, Young Republicans, there’s plenty of clubs out there that give you information how politics work. It’s the stuff that drives our state, our country and I think it’s important.” Collier said.

As we mentally and financially prepare to enter the thralls of the real world, it is wildly important to set out with at least a semblance of knowledge on how it works. Collecting reliable information, engaging in causes that are important to you, and effecting change by voting are practical acts that will help ready you for what else is to come.