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> * Young people have the least say in elections While this is true from the perspective of voting laws (you can vote after 18 but you don’t need to be 18 to s
by 404mm 2y ago
> * Young people have the least say in elections
While this is true from the perspective of voting laws (you can vote after 18 but you don’t need to be 18 to see how f’d ip things are…), it’s also true that the age bracket 18-29 has the lowest participation in elections. I didn’t do the math but I would not be surprised if the last elections turned differently if this bracket increased to percentage levels seen amongst older ages.
https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/half-youth-voted-2020-11-point-increase-2016 https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/half-youth-voted-20...
- jenny91 2y agoYoung people (and really any working age people) just really don't have that much time, energy, and (mostly importantly) money to dedicate to impacting election and legislative results. When you're working age you have more imminent things to worry about, but the matter of fact is that it's mostly retired people who think the world is going to s*t whose voices are heard the loudest. Of course you can say it's a question of priorities and it's "their fault" for not being politically active, but I would argue the system is stacked against young people's political participation. Also, most places in the US have minimum age limits for elected positions.
- jappgar 2y agoVoting isn't hard and costs nothing People who don't vote have no right to complain about the government. Arguments like yours are used by lazy people to justify non-participation. You aren't helping them by making excuses for them.
- SecretDreams 2y agoI'd say arguments like yours are why people don't vote.
- jappgar 2y agoThey don't vote because people criticize them for not voting?
- SecretDreams 2y agoWhat are the demographics that don't vote and how do they compare to your current status (financials, privileges, etc) in life? Be data driven and get back to me.
- canuckintime 2y agoIt’s also true that age 18-29 bracket is less likely to have historically been registered to vote and that they are typically working in precarious positions with less ability to take time off to vote. If voting registration was automatic, and election day was a holiday, I’d expect the participation across age brackets to be much closer.
- 404mm 2y agoI don’t know much about voting in other states, but Texas does have it. In a way. I never had to go anywhere to register to vote. It was a part of my DL application, and it got updated with each change of address. You don’t need the mail voter registration to vote either— just your DL. From my understanding there are some states where it’s still not that easy but many do have this integrated with DL renewals, issues or similar. I agree that Election Day should be a holiday. There’s a slight issue with Federal Holidays being applying only to federal employees and not necessarily to independent businesses, which can choose to observe it or not… but it’s a start. Also in Texas, the polls are open for early elections for like two weeks ahead of Election Day. I always take advantage of that. No wait, no hassle, in and out. Most states offer either that or mail-in voting.
- jfengel 2y agoYoung people are also less likely to have driver's licenses.
- whimsicalism 2y agoput the election on a holiday, there is absolutely no justification for it not be a holiday.