As Americans we have the incredible right to vote which each and every citizen should be proud of and take advantage of. This is a right bestowed upon us years ago that many other countries do not have. We all learned this at about age ten so why is voting relevant now? Why, as a Georgetown student should I vote? Students often feel as if the election as no direct affect on their lives and that their vote does not matter. As the country gets heated up for the next presidential campaign, college students are left wondering…what’s in it for me?
First and foremost—the job market
Even though we see about thirty suited juniors and seniors rushing off to their Credit Suisse or Bank of America interviews each day, few come out of the encounter happy. This is because the job market is at an all time low. Students, especially those about to enter the work force, need to put their trust and votes towards someone who they think will improve the economy and therefore the job market. The state of the economy is at the forefront of the presidential debates and students are directly affected. They feel the burden of the waning economy with their tuition expenses and the lack of opportunities currently in the work force. Gaining knowledge of candidates views and plans for the economy is crucial for college students.
Your vote does matter
Although it is difficult to see instant results or consequences from a vote, college students carry a lot of weight when it comes to the booths. Some candidates have noticed the power of the student vote, as Obama did in 2008. According to Rock the Vote there are about 44 million college students, also called millennial voters, eligible for this year’s campaign. That accounts for about 1/5 of the voting eligible population, which means that they can completely impact an election.
The reasons to vote are endless. Voting is patriotic, a social responsibility and an honor. Although at times it is hard to push away the textbooks, laptops and solo cups to be invested in the campaign, college age students will be greatly affected by this years election. So if Uncle Sam doesn’t inspire you to vote, maybe the suits around Healy will.
Sources:
http://collegelife.about.com/od/2008votingandelection/a/whyishouldvote.htm
http://naomi-rockler-gladen.suite101.com/why-college-students-should-vote-youth-voters-matter-a258411
http://arbiteronline.com/2012/01/19/students-should-educate-themselves-on-presidential-elections/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-22-freshmen-survey_N.htm
http://www.duplincountync.com/boe/precinct.html