Today: Dec 09, 2024

Young adults disconnected from politics

Anisa Jibrell – News Writer

As the 2016 presidential election nears, many young adults like Christian Tracey, junior business management major, don’t concern themselves with politics.

“I‘m really not interested in any of the candidates this year so it’s just kind of like the lesser of two evils in my opinion when it comes to whoever will get presidency,” said Tracey. “I don’t even think I’m ‘gonna vote this year.”

More and more young adults like Tracey are experiencing a disconnect from presidential campaigns according to a study by the U.S. Census Bureau which found that voters between 18 and 24 years old have the lowest voter registration percentage (58.5 percent) among all age groups.

Some of the reasons why Tracey is disinterested in political debate is because she thinks her vote will not make a “difference” and she sees the “ultimate destruction of America” coming soon.

“I feel that even though it seems as if people have a lot of pull on what goes on in society, that that’s not really how it goes,” said Tracey. “The government ultimately makes the end decision. I’m just taking it one day at a time and whatever happens—happens, and unfortunately that’s the way I view things but at the end of the day, things will happen inevitably if they’re meant to happen.”

Despite young people controlling 21 percent of eligible voters in the United States, according to a report by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the thought of not being able to make a difference is a common sentiment with young voters like Tracey.

Sophmore business management major, Steve Barlett said students don’t generally care to vote until after college when they’re more likely to hold bigger responsibilities.

“Students probably think that it matters more when they have a family and a home,” said Barlett.

While some students have grown blasé to public debate, others like Tywane Jenkins are very interested in what presidential candidates have to offer, and said that Hillary Clinton currently has his vote.

“Her policies on black justice or systems of education are very good,” said Jenkins. “She’s right in that she can’t help us until we help ourselves and I think she can help lead that movement to help us do that.”

Jenkins said Hillary Clinton would best lead the country, but all candidates including Donald Trump have something to offer America but Hilary Clinton right now, offers American the most, said Jenkins.

Jenkins said two of the things he looks for in a presidential candidate is good education policies and a focus on black rights, both of which he said Clinton demonstrates very well.

“She’s actually met with black lives matter movement leaders, and service for justice leaders and what she’s said is, that this is all going to change not through laws, but how we can change ourselves and make the movements happen, which I really agree with,” said Jenkins. “It’s only getting better day by day. Laws are getting put in place, we’re winning that battle right now but we need to do more for ourselves like actually get in the streets, do these protests, lead these movements that are happening, which I think we’re doing. Slowly but surely but it’s happening.”

Photo Credit: Anisa Jibrell – News Writer

PHOTO: Student, Tywane Jenkins

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