Should you vote?

 Mark Higgins

Election Paper

Due: 10/20/2021--- 11/3/2021

Dylan Makris, a Democrat from New Hampshire takes voting seriously and considers it a responsibility.

“ I drove home over three hours from Stonehill College to North Conway, New Hampshire in order to vote in the 2020 presidential election and I do not regret it for a second. I don’t think our generation does not do nearly enough, although change is coming we need to voice our opinions louder by getting even more younger people to vote,” said Makris.

Makris follows a growing trend of young adults taking initiative and voting. With election day just weeks away, it is likely that young adults will follow in the 2018 presidential trend and make a difference in elections.

Tufts, Tisch college center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement Reported that in recent years the number of youths, especially those of color, voting has increased despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Even making key differences in “battleground states”.

Ryan Pepin, a Stonehill Computer Science major from Medway, Massachusetts believes that although voting is very important, politicians should not be looked up to or trusted.

“I try to vote as much as possible, I drove home in order to vote in the 2020 presidential election. Within the next few weeks, I will monitor the debates and make a conscious effort to vote because people have died for the right to vote and to ignore that would disrespect the sacrifice so many have made before me. With that being said, I believe that elections are more symbolic than having a real effect on society because almost all politicians have secret agendas that go against their sold beliefs,” said Pepin.

Unregistered Stonehill College student Kyle Demmerit goes against the increasing trend and will not be voting in this upcoming election because he does not believe that voting matters.

“ I personally believe people our age should do whatever they want, I do not see a point in voting and therefore I won’t, I have never voted and I do not believe I ever will. Although I will never deter young people like myself from voting I don’t think it matters so I don’t take the time out of my day to become informed, regarding politics,” said Demmerit.

Everett Mayor Carlo Demaria is optimistic about the younger generations getting out and voting in higher numbers and believes that it will continue in the upcoming election.

“I expect the increase of young voters’ trend to continue, with many of them showing up to vote in the local election just like they did for the most recent presidential election. In the past the younger generation was always silent in elections and never really put their voice out there but not anymore, younger people are taking the future in their own hands and trying to make a change through these elections. I am excited for not only for more youth voters but also for the youth to be more informed about politics than I have seen in a long time, and I am optimistic it will continue in the future,” said Demaria.

A study backs up Demaria’s optimism, with steep increases of people claiming they are politically engaged or active, rising to 36% as reported from Harvard IOP youth poll, created by Datawrapper.

 

Republican Bates College student Michael Bulman said that young adults should vote.

“I am classified as a Republican, but I prefer to think of myself as a free thinker, most of the older generations are so caught up in their ways, deciding on matters purely on their affiliations. We need more younger individuals who can think past those facts. When I mailed in my vote for Biden in 2020 my family was furious but that just shows why we need younger voters. My parents were so caught in their ways they couldn’t understand that the world is changing, and they should think and vote for themselves not for their political party,” said Bulman.

 

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