With the presidential election less than a month away, coverage of both candidates has dominated TV screens and headlines. For college students, this is our first time being eligible to vote and for the last year and a half we’ve watched one of the most controversial elections ever unfold. The first debate was the most-watched in U.S history and social media has been played an even bigger role now more than ever. It’s pretty much impossible to avoid election coverage which is why it’s disappointing that so many people in our generation won’t actually vote.
While Millennials make up 31% of the voting population, according to the Pew Research Center we are less likely to vote compared to older generations. Approximately 71.5% of eligible voters didn’t vote in the primary election this summer. Many collegiate women have said they don’t want to vote because they don’t think their voice matters or they don’t like either candidate. While this election is unconventional to say the least, voting is still a privilege that some girls around the world are not fortunate enough to have. It’s essential that collegiate women become informed about the issues being debated since many of them are gender specific. The candidates have issued statements regarding their position on abortion, Planned Parenthood funding, paid leave for families and the wage gap. The minimum wage and a tuition free college education are also issues college students should be paying attention to.
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke in New Hampshire on October 13th to empower women and encourage them to vote. Mrs. Obama stressed that our voice matters, and we cannot afford to stay home on Election Day. The First Lady discussed how without the female vote, Barack Obama wouldn’t have won swing states like New Hampshire.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be so disgusted that we just shut off the TV and walk away,” she said. “And we can’t just sit around wringing our hands. Now, we need to recover from our shock and depression and do what women have always done in this country. We need you to roll up your sleeves. We need to get to work.”
Recently, Trump supporters have been tweeting to repeal the 19th Amendment, which is the amendment that gives women the right to vote. No matter what party you support, talk like this is unacceptable and there is no place for comments like this in 2016. In an election where the first female nominee is running and the treatment of women has been pulled to the forefront of the controversy, it is more important than ever for collegiate women to get informed, register and vote.
This election has already made history and will be talked about for years to come. Please don’t put off something as important as voting. The deadline to register for an absentee ballot is November 1st. Click here to fill out your absentee ballot!