According to the University of Florida Election lab, around 245 million people were eligible to vote in the 2024 Election. Close to 90 million didn’t participate.
While being a college student, policies and laws enacted today can affect your future opportunities. This includes decisions made about education funding, campus safety, college loans, as well as job outlooks. It’s crucial to begin to register to vote to have a say in major issues.
Many people vote because it is important for their own lives, alongside with voting for others who can not vote. If you believe that your vote “doesn’t matter”, votes are positively stronger in numbers.
Communities who have a high voter registration turnout rate tend to catch the attention of candidates and office holders. They also have preferable access to elected officials, increased influence and are in a better position to raise awareness about their alarming issues.
Your vote can give a voice to the voiceless. As we all know people under 18 are ineligible to vote. They depend on us to represent their ideas, such as Early College High School (ECHS) students who also attend Solano Community College. Therefore there is a program that allows students starting at the age of 16 to pre- register to vote.
Many colleges such as SCC also have a wide DACA student population and they depend on peers and teachers who are eligible to vote on what is a good future for the community.
Being a first time voter, you might be unsure on who to vote for or you’re not informed about issues in your community. It’s okay to ask your family, friends and peers who actively follow politics to help guide you in the voting process. You could also ask your Political Science and History professor. They may have some good views on what’s important, which candidates are allies to educators and show ongoing support to schools and students.
Conducting your own research on candidates and issues is key to forming your own opinions on essential topics. It’s your responsibility to evaluate a source’s credibility as an internet user browsing on social media.
Learning about the ballot is also an important aspect about being a first time voter. Your local election offices provide sample ballots on their website that you can follow along with. When you register to vote, they also mail you information about candidates and ballot measures closer to election day.
Many resources are available to you at the touch of your finger tips. There are many ways to register to vote. Such as by mail, in person and even online but at the end of the day, it is up to you as a college student if you want to make a change, different organizations such as the league of women voters often publish recent information about policy. You can also access different websites such as the college student voter guide and the government candidates page. These pages are dedicated to election coverage.
