Parents sway young voters

By Michelle L. Young
Daily Forty-Niner

Often, it has been noted that young adults vote like their parents, rather than voting according to their personal beliefs.

"My mom told me what to vote on for the propositions, but not who to vote for presidentially," said Laura Consolver, a freshman art major.

This was a concern when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Congress had acted unconstitutionally in lowering the voting age to 18 in 1970.

But in 1971, the 26th Amendment assured citizens 18 years of age or older could not be denied the right to vote because of their young age.

"Children internalize their parents' opinions," said Mary Caputi, associate professor of political science. "They take on the sensibilities of their parents, emulating their parents' views. Most 18-to 22-year olds are really not in their own in the world. Being at the university, students are able to put their own views in a new context."

Although many young voters take their parents' view into consideration, they ultimately make their own decisions.

"They tell me what they think and I take that into consideration," said Ann Morris, liberal studies and graphics design freshman who voted the same as her parents. "I intertwine that with what I believe."

Freshman English major Julie Davison thought it to be a coincidence that she voted the same as her parents.

"In a sense I did vote like my parents, but I voted for who I thought would be the best president," she said. "You have to vote for the one who has the closest morals to you."

Other young voters disagreed with their parents' choice.

"My parents historically have voted Republican, but this time I voted Democratic," marketing freshmen Ruth Zimmerman said.