Voting is not only a right but a necessary action fundamental to the preservation of our democracy.
We have a duty to ready ourselves to vote in the upcoming Georgia general elections. With this right comes an imperative to encourage our friends, peers and acquaintances to register and vote.
Georgia’s state-level elections will take place on Nov. 6. Included on the ballot will be six proposed amendments to the state’s constitution.
In 1781, writing to the Boston Gazette, Samuel Adams said that when citizens vote, they are “executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable.” As a founding father, Adams recognized that our expression of political action through voting is one of the most important duties of an individual to their democracy.
According to reports by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, about 54 percent of eligible students at KSU voted in the 2016 presidential election. That number is slightly above the national average of 50 percent at learning institutions.
Though we can claim a better than average score, these numbers do not point to the levels of engagement we should strive towards at KSU. These statistics indicate that of all eligible voters, only 77 percent were registered. Of that percentage, only about 70 percent of registered students actually voted.
Though general state elections are not nearly as high-profile as a presidential race, they are still just as important to the function of our democracy. Our last midterm election saw a turnout of 50 percent among registered voters across Georgia in 2014. According to Fairvote.org, these numbers still outrun the national midterm average of 40 percent across states, but they still leave room for improvement.
For the 20 percent of eligible students who have not yet registered to vote, the registration deadline ends on Oct. 9, less than a month from now. Absentee ballots open on Sept. 18, with the last day for mail-in ending on Nov. 2.
I recommend that everyone should double-check the status of their registration in case it has expired or in case their information was removed in recent voting roll purges. Once your status is squared away, it is time to spread the word and remind your peers to register.
Spreading the word is an easy step that can lead to public action. A simple reminder from a friend or family member can motivate others to get involved in the election. One way we can encourage others is by sharing online resources to help people register, learn about candidates and get to their polling places.
Residents can register to vote, check their registration status, and find their appropriate polling station using Georgia My Voter Page. Sites such as VoteSmart.org can also let voters quickly learn and evaluate candidates’ policy platforms and voting history, making it a great resource for self-education. Both pages can be shared on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter to reach broad audiences and help. Students can also use KSU Turbo Vote to register and order absentee ballots.
For those looking to go the extra mile, you can volunteer for services like Carpool Vote as a driver to help shuttle people to your local polling station. This service is also a great resource to spread around, as many people may not have their own transportation to polling stations.
It is crucial that we take whatever steps we can towards encouraging as many people to vote as possible. Whether through social media or word of mouth, getting the word out is important to maintaining a healthy democracy. As students, let’s reach out this month and help our state and our university advance the representation of all members of our society, starting with our fellow Owls.
