A.S.I
works to increase voting among students
By
Safiya Elkhaldy
On-line Forty-Niner
In
an attempt to combat low voter turnout among
young people, Associated Students Inc. continues
its campaign, "Students to Reinvigorate
Democracy," by attempting to register
hundreds of students during Week of Welcome.
The
intense launch was motivated from the lack
of young people's participation in local
elections.
In
the last few elections only five percent
of young people between the ages of 18 to
24 have voted in local elections.
These
rates are less than one-half that of older
voters.
Michelle
Cooper, A.S.I. election commissioner, has
been working diligently to encourage students
to arrive at the polls on Oct. 7.
"The
first step is being registered [to vote],"
Cooper said. "We need to at least have
students registered, that way they a least
are aware that the recall is coming."
With
Cooper's guidance coupled with the man power
of student volunteers, A.S.I. hopes to make
students aware of the recall and how powerful
their vote is in this election.
With
the increase in tuition and Arnold Schwarzenegger's
recent campaign stop at Cal State Long Beach,
Cooper feels that students have gradually
become less of a priority in the state agenda.
"Look
at what was covered when Arnold came to
our campus. No one really touched on the
fact that he was talking to college students,
the only thing I saw on the news is how
he was egged." Cooper said.
Like
Cooper, other students want to break the
tradition of low turn out at the polls and
make young voter's issues a priority. Communication
major, Aaron Arechiga, is registered and
does not understand why students would not
want to vote.
"I'm
voting in this recall election and I have
voted in the past. Between the media, school
and parents, I don't see how people can
say that they don't have a reason to vote
or the information to vote." Arechiga
said.
Students
such as liberal studies major, Jennifer
Spitzer, feel the recall is important but
feels she has not educated herself enough
on the candidates who are running.
"I
know I want to recall Davis, but I don't
have a candidate to replace him as governor."
For
political science professor, Lewis Ringel,
the five percent voter turn out does not
come as a surprise.
Ringel
said he holds various factors responsible
for the low turn out, particularly a lack
of information, lack of time, and a lack
of self-confidence among students.
"Most
students work and have 15 units. They have
a lot of things competing for their time.
Politics doesn't quite matter as much as
everything else they have going on,"
Ringel said.
As
Oct. 7 approaches, A.S.I. is working
persistently to inform and register all
students on campus.
For
more information on registering or campaigning
call A.S.I. at (562) 985-5241.
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