“Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Those are the famous words of Abraham Lincoln from his 1863 Gettysburg Address.
American citizens shape the government, and one way they do so is by voting. Whether it is voting on different policies or choosing leaders, voters create and shape the government.
Citizens have the right and the privilege to shape the government, but unfortunately not everyone takes advantage of that right. According to research by Emily Brandon, a writer for U.S News & World Report, most young American citizens ages 18-24 do not vote during elections. Only about 21 percent of young citizens actually vote every election.
This low turnout of young voters is disappointing. Americans have the right to shape government and express opinions but when they do not vote, they waive that right. More young citizens need to get out and vote, and the next opportunity to do so is the upcoming general election on November 4, when Michigan will elect or re-elect its next governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and representatives and a member of the State Board of Education.
It is always said that the young are our future, and what they do now will determine how the future will be. Young citizens have a say in what kind of world they want to live in, but their opinions will not be heard if they don’t vote for their leaders. More opinions and political involvement can bring in a new world of opportunity. The young need to step up and make the decisions that will affect them and their future children.
Now most young citizens say that they don’t know anything about politics and that they don’t have time to stand in line for something they don’t understand. Despite what they say, if they have time to stand in line for a new phone or video game or pair of gym shoes, they have time to stand in line and vote for their future. As for not knowing about the issues and candidates, voters can easily take the initiative to learn about them. The Internet makes access to knowledge quite easy.
Furthermore, there are issues that affect the young, and if they do not vote on those issues they are basically saying that they don’t care about how their country is run. When more young people vote, it allows change to move forward. Change could fix poverty, promote economic growth and create a more diverse political outlook.
If America keeps allowing its older citizens to make decisions for the whole country, then the future will be based off of their ideas and not the collective ideas and input of all ages.