Extremely controversial, incendiary, and full of extreme positions, the presidential race taking place right now is one that will go down in history. And viewers of this high-tension election are not idle, as people everywhere are taking their own stance.
But that’s about it.
Everyone is taking a stance and commenting from afar, but no one is taking action.
Voter turnout is at an all-time low. However, it’s actually most evident in the congressional race and not the presidential race.
Just recently, in July of 2015, census.gov put forth a press release discussing low voter turnout. They wrote, “The 2014 congressional election turnout rate of 41.9 percent was the lowest since the U.S. Census Bureau first began asking Americans about voting and citizenship status in 1978.”
Why have these rates declined so greatly?
Image by politifact.com
Haco Hoang, a professor for the Political Science Department, muses that one of the reasons for the slow in voting for congressional elections is that “there’s a perceived glamour to national elections. Congressional elections are about the district, so there’s a misconception that the stakes aren’t as big. And because members of Congress run every two years, there’s burnout from the shorter running.”
Despite the fact that it is one of the better facets of government that can best speak to the voice of the people, Congress, and the act of voting for the members within it, receives little acknowledgement.
USHistory.org says, “The Constitution specifically grants Congress its most important power—the authority to make laws. The two houses share other powers…these include the power to declare war, coin money, raise an army and navy, regulate commerce, establish rules of immigration and naturalization, and establish the federal courts and their jurisdiction.” Besides all this power, Congress additionally has oversight of budget.
Looking over financial plans, passing bills, and keeping immigration in check are important issues that affect everyone in the country; and Congress is especially impactful, as all of its choices directly affect constituents.
This can be seen in history, from the establishment of the 13th Amendment, to passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to the current acts of setting a higher minimum wage, to creating a sexist-free work environment, and more. Congress hears the needs of the people and addresses them through creating and passing bills.
Needless to say, Congress is an essential piece of the government that makes the people of the nation feel as though their opinions, needs, and beliefs are being heard.
Image by scholarsandrogues.com
Some people say that politics don’t really matter, some say they’re too busy to concern themselves with staying updated, and others blatantly just don’t care…
But I think they do, without realizing it.
Feminism Is, American Medical Students Association, Adventure Club, Black Student Union, and French Club are just a few of the clubs on campus. Any member interested in any of them could say they don’t care about politics, but in reality, they actually do.
These clubs highlight feminism, medicine, the environment, race issues, and diversity/immigration, all of which are prevalent topics of many bills being discussed/passed in Congress. These clubs, alongside other unnamed ones, exemplify just how relevant politics actually is.
What’s more, voting in the congressional election is so important especially because we are students. Jobs, educational assistance, potential drafting for war, Social Security, the increase in minimum wage, and more—all of it affects us.
And since voting for members in Congress is accomplished through means of direct popular vote and there aren’t factors like the Electoral College or delegates to work around like in the presidential election, constituents like you and me are entirely in charge of who’s elected—and yet, very few people are placing their votes.
Image by pinterest.com
At its roots, this country was founded on democracy and the idealistic view of listening to the people within it.
In the past, people were grateful for this; now, people take it for granted.
Today, millennials have the greatest amount of resources to broadcast their opinions than ever before: blogs, forums, video chats, and more make discussion and debate possible. And in being part of a time where diversity, immigration, police brutality, and other social issues are at a high, there are many polarized opinions. It’s important to have one’s views represented in the best possible way, electing senators and representatives that uphold their constituent’s views.
So do something.
Register to vote, look up and research your potential members of Congress, and actually get out to submit your ballot.
It’s time for people to stop talking about their views, online and in person, and start acting upon them by picking people they want to be their voice… or better yet, running to become that very voice.