Oct. 4, 2004. Not a date that your history professor may ask you to identify on a mid-term test but definitely one that may shape the course of history. Oct. 4 is the last date for voter registration to qualify to participate in the Nov. 2 presidential and congressional elections.The number of college students who are registered to vote is grim. According to New Voters Project, a grassroots young voter campaign, only 36.1 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 24 voted in the 2000 presidential election. Only 50.7 percent of this age group is registered to vote. What kind of message is this sending to presidential and congressional candidates? Do college students really not care about those in control of their future?
It makes sense that politicians will focus their campaigns and decisions on those who vote on Election Day. If we want to have a say in what our nation will become for future generations, then now is the time to illustrate our concerns to politicians. It is time for us to show that we are concerned about our country and will use our voting power to ensure a brighter future.
Students can no longer make legitimate excuses about not being informed enough to vote or not having easy access to voter registration applications. In 2004, becoming an informed voter seems to be the cool thing.
MTV has partnered with the Rock the Vote 2004 campaign to provide a forum for youth to discuss election issues important to us. In just one week, Rock the Vote registered almost 15,000 people through its website, http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_register.php. Musicians and actors have come together to promote voting among college students. Hip-hop artists, such as Missy Elliot and P-Diddy, have formed Rap the Vote to reach yet another segment of youth who may not be registered to vote. Even the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) created Smackdown Your Vote!, a partnership of nonpartisan organizations working to encourage youth involvement in the political process.
It seems as if every business is trying to get a piece of the movement to get young people to the voting polls. Ben & Jerry’s even developed Primary Berry Graham, an ice cream flavor created especially for the Rock the Vote campaign. Sunkist Orange Soda, 7 UP and 7-Eleven, Inc. partnered to distribute one million voter registration forms in 7-Eleven stores throughout the country.
Take advantage of all the programs being initiated to educate young people on voting. Take advantage of the convenient methods of voter registration that have been created by various organizations. Be proud to live in a country where we are given the freedom to choose our leaders and take advantage of that privilege.
