College students are stereotyped as being unabashedly political, and this stereotype is not without its merits. We talk a lot of talk. However, college students 18-24 years old are actually the smallest age demographic of voters. Troubling for a myriad of reasons, college students’ nonvoting status is debilitating to the country’s ability to make progress.
Worse still, Georgia is a swing state. Every single vote matters. Out-of-state college students have a unique power in that they can register to vote in either their home state or their school’s state. Take that into consideration as you’re registering—where will your vote make the most impact? There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, except that a ballot not cast has no impact at all.
*(If you are an out-of-state student who has already registered to vote but changed your mind about where you want your vote to go, it’s not too late to change your address.)
The deadline for registering to vote is coming up. However, unlike the other deadlines on your plate, this one will only take a couple minutes to do. You may have concepts of a plan for voting, but it’s important to actually follow through on it. Do not let procrastination be the reason you let your voice go unheard this election.
Moreover, once the national election is past, you shouldn’t stop thinking about voting for another four years. Local elections are just as -- if not more, influential in the direction our country takes. It’s important to be involved in your local elections because that is where you have the most direct impact on your community. This is not a thing to dread, either. You don’t have to have a shrine for every “I Voted” sticker you collect, just keep in mind when elections are happening.
No matter your opinion, it matters that you exercise your right to express it.
Below, are official U.S. Government websites, that provide more in-depth information. If you want a reason to procrastinate on your homework a little longer without the guilt of mindlessly scrolling, try registering to vote and looking into the voting policies for your home state.
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