Did you know that the youngest age group eligible to vote, 18-34 years, makes up nearly 30 percent of the population, but only 20 percent of them are reported voters in the United States? That is a small percentage compared to the senior age group (65 years and older) who make up only 20 percent of the population, but with 60 percent as reported voters. We, the younger generation, do not use our voting impact to the fullest potential. Perhaps it is because you never voted before and you don't even know where to begin or what the process of voting is like, but you would still certainly like to get involved and have your voice heard. Here is a brief "voting for dummies" guide to help you get started, on your feet and voting to make a difference at the upcoming presidential elections!
How does it all work? What is the Electoral College?
In order to understand the impact of your vote, let's brush up on a bit of fifth-grade social studies. The president is not elected by getting the most votes but through an indirect system called the Electoral College. Each state has a certain number of electors selected by its voters who then elect the president and vice president. The number of electors for each state is dependent on their number of representatives in Congress. Remember this map?
So when you vote, you are technically not voting for the candidates that are listed, but for a block of electors who pledge to vote for said candidates when they assemble later on. (Don't worry, very rarely are the electors faithless; they will have your back). The popular candidate, or technically the block of electors who support them, wins all of the electoral votes for that state. There is a total of 538 electoral votes and a candidate must win at least 270 of the votes in order to win.
What are primary and general elections?
The general public is quite aware of the general elections. General elections occur on the first Tuesday of November each year. In the presidential general election, each party has narrowed down their candidates to one nominee, and the voters choose which party they want to vote for. Lesser known are the primary elections, which happen before the general elections. They are held independently at each state. In these elections, voters have the chance to influence which candidate gets to represent each party. There are a few different kinds of primary elections that take place. In an open primary, voters are able to vote for candidates regardless of their own political affiliation. In closed primaries, voters must be registered as a member of a party before voting. Check out your states elections website to obtain information on when the presidential primaries will be held. (The New York site is here.)
How do I register to vote?
For some of us, this is our first time voting and simply registering to vote can be daunting. A great place to begin is the USA.gov website. You may be able to register online. If you want to register to vote in New York, click here.
Should I vote in my college town or hometown?
Many of you are out-of-state college students. You may either vote at the polls or vote absentee for your state back home. Try to vote where you think your vote would have the most impact. For instance, if you are a Democrat in a predominantly Democratic college town but your home state is predominantly Republican, your vote as a Democrat would perhaps have more influence back home. This helpful blog post lists absentee voter information by state.
Even if you are not involved in politics, governmental decisions directly affect you, so you may as well participate. Remember to educate yourself on the potential candidates and do your research before you vote. So what are you waiting for? Have your voice heard.
