OPINION: If you're registered to vote, show up at the polls

Graffiti Wall at Ohio University on May 15, 2022. Photo by Bo Kuhn.

Julianna Rittenberg is a sophomore studying political science and an opinion writer for The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

The 2022 midterm elections are just days away. Many are anxiously waiting to see if youth voters, ages 18-29, will turn out in high numbers as they have in 2018 and 2020. 

In 2016, only 39% of eligible youth voters partook in their civic duty. In 2020, 50% voted nationwide. Ohio matched this nationwide statistic at 49%. 

While Gen Z and young millennials often engage in conversations surrounding social issues on social media, many do not turnout to vote. Young voters have consistently low turnout, allowing politicians to ignore their voices and abuse their positions.

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of anger, resentment and frustration for younger voters.

After two years of major political decisions such as Dobbs v. Jackson, President Biden's student debt forgiveness program, residual effects of the 2020 election and a loss of faith in the U.S. government, this election is essential to vote in. 

Here is a breakdown of the top issues for young voters, in no particular order.

ABORTION:

Pro-choice abortion protest in Athens, Ohio on May 15, 2022. Photo by Bo Kuhn.

Following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, voter registration rose among young people and women. Since August, 54% of newly registered voters under 30 have been women. 

These are people who have only ever lived under Roe v. Wade. Their right to choose is being taken away and they are rising to the occasion. Since Dobbs, several states have introduced new laws or restored old laws restricting abortion access. 

Information has come out about period tracking through apps and where that data goes, as well as social media and other apps selling privacy and location data related to abortions and health care. 

Young women are registered, but the next step is to vote. Registration is nothing without the act. 

IMMIGRATION:

Over the course of the past three presidential administrations, immigration rights and the DACA program have faced fierce debate and loss of funding as power shifts between the two parties.

Many Republican voters have called for the construction of the border wall to continue. Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis pulled cheap stunts in the past several months, shipping immigrants to other Democrat-led states. As part of the immigration process there are travel restrictions and regular in-person check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, stunts like these put immigrants in an impossible situation and threaten their statuses. 

Anti-immigration rhetoric is increasingly common. This election will determine what legislators can get away with over the next two years. 

CLIMATE CHANGE:

While most young voters believe climate change to be a top priority, most are skeptical that there will be a solution anytime soon. According to the 2019 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, there are only 11 years left to address human-induced climate change. After that, the impact will leave irreversible damage to the planet. If global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees celsius, we will face violent storms, flooding, droughts, dangerous sea levels and problematic air quality.

AP-NORC Sept. 12, 2022

President Biden's administration has created major legislation to combat climate change, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which set aside provisions for billions of dollars each year for the cause. This is the first time a sitting president has acknowledged the necessity of fighting climate change.

Climate change motivates voters. While one party refuses to acknowledge its existence, the other is working to combat it, even if not at a sufficient level. 

GUN VIOLENCE:

Mass shootings have significantly impacted young voters. For many of us, growing up hearing about or experiencing school shootings was our first introduction to politics.

We have been the same ages as the kids who have died. We have feared going to school and feared for our siblings and cousins and nieces and nephews going to school. We have watched our politicians fail to do anything about it, while 110 Americans are killed in an incident of gun violence every day. We are afraid, frustrated, angry and ready to do something about it. We are ready to stop dying. 

We have to vote for elected officials that will make it happen. It is the only way to protect our peers.

DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS:

Since the 2020 general election, there has been increasing concern for the state of democracy in the U.S. 

Pew Research Center, June 6, 2022

In just two years, America saw an attempted kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, assassination attempts on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and attempts by elected officials to overturn or cast doubt on the 2020 election results. 

These actions successfully placed doubt in democratic systems with many voters. While our systems need work, they are what we have. The results of our elections must be legitimate and trusted. 

LGBTQ+ RIGHTS:

LGBTQ+ rights are dependent on this election. Several states, including Ohio, are attacking LGBTQ+ children's rights. Ohio introduced House Bill 616, banning curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity and denying minors the ability to receive gender-affirming health care. This bill, attempting to censor free speech in the classroom and silence LGBTQ+ students was inspired by Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

These bills will kill LGBTQ+ people and set back years of progress. But they will not break LGBTQ+ people. Many candidates in this election cycle are outright against LGBTQ+ people, they use transphobic and homophobic rhetoric and support anti-LGBTQ+ policies. We cannot let these candidates and these beliefs win.

Go vote. It may not fix every problem, but it is an important start. This necessary action will finally force elected officials and politicians to listen to the younger generations. 

Voters need to consider: Will your choice create the change you want to see?

Encourage your friends and family to vote. You have until Nov. 8. And, if you vote in Athens, you will get to see Pumpkin the cat.