Trying to understand voter apathy

Next Tuesday, millions of Americans will line up at the polls and mark their ballots, choosing, among other things, the next leader of the most powerful country in the world.

But statistics indicate that few Cal Sate Long Beach students will be among them. According to the Census Bureau, an average of 30 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds registered to vote did so in the last presidential election, and only 12 percent of that group voted in 1998.

An incredible 69 percent of voters in the 18- to 20-year-old age bracket did not vote in 1996. This amounted to approximately 7 million college-age voters not participating in that election.

Turnout among young voters has hit an embarrassing all-time low. And overall, the United States has the worst voter participation rate of any developed democracy.

The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971 in response to the Vietnam War. 18-year-olds were old enough to fight and die in war, so it was decided they should have the right and privilege of voting for those who were sending them to their deaths.

At that time, 50 percent of all 18-year-olds cast ballots, but that percentage has steadily declined since.

John Caldwell
How I see it

The dramatic decrease in young voters has sparked hypotheses in recent years by campaigns and educators trying to understand why. Some say young people have not yet developed the sense of community obligation that drives many to the polls. Others claim young voters feel left out and misinformed.

One solid argument, in my opinion, is that issues that might be attractive to college-age people are not part of either party's main message. Tax cuts, health care and social security are never going to rally young voters. If I were an 18-year-old recent high school graduate living in a prosperous economy with a job and a car, I would not be able to care less about elementary-age education issues.

If I were being sent against my will to fight in a war that I did not support, however, my butt would be at the polls on Election Day. I believe there must be an emotional reason for young people to vote. Older people vote because of a sense of duty, but college students need more.

When I was 18, I voted because I perceived Reagan to be a right-wing religious fanatic. He not only expounded a political ideology I did not agree with, his religious rhetoric had brought the election to a personal level for me. His views were potentially hurtful to me so I ran to the polls on Election Day to vote for his opponent.

The presidential campaigns have become so disgustingly watered down and politically correct that it is no wonder so few people, young and old, go to the polls. As politicians try to appeal to everyone, emotional arguments disappear and the choices become less clear.

I am a firm believer that all citizens should vote. I place the same importance on voting in every election as I do on paying my rent every month. I will continue to strongly criticize those who do not vote, but I am beginning to understand why so many young people are apathetic.

Non-charismatic candidates combined with a strong economy and the absence of war could be making it difficult for younger voters to find a reason to care.

John Caldwell is a print journalism major at Cal State Long Beach.