Thomas Keller
3/28/12
Voting Among Young Vermonters
One of the pillars of the American Democratic process is the right of the citizens to vote. Here, in Vermont, we are granted this right in Chapter II, Section 42 of our
Constitution: ““Every person of the full age of eighteen years who is a citizen of the
United States, having resided in this State for the period established by the General
Assembly and who is of a quiet and peaceable behavior, and will take the following oath or affirmation, shall be entitled to all the privileges of a voter of this state.” Suffrage is one of the most influential ways that a Vermonter can have a say in the State
Government, yet many do not take advantage of this right. Do to the fact that voting is a responsibility and a privilege, many voters refrain from voting, especially young adults.
There are many reasons why Americans do not vote, and many stem from the idea that voting is a burden placed on the citizen. The first aspect of the American voting system that turns off the voter is the frequency and complexity of elections. According to Vermont-elections.org, voters in Vermont will have to cast votes for over 13 different positions within the state government during this election year. This means that voters are supposed to be knowledgeable of those running for these offices and the role that each position will play in the government. Vermont voters, especially busy young voters, are turned off by the sheer number of offices and candidates; they see the process as one large hassle. A second negative aspect of the American voting system is the

registration process. As stated on Vermont-elections.org, unlike other countries where voters are automatically registered at once they reach voting age, voters in Vermont must take an oath and submit registration paperwork ahead of the time of the election.
The hassle created by frequency of elections and voluntary registration creates a climate of apathy within the Vermont voting pool. This means that voters become dissatisfied with the institution of voting and lose interest, leading to a drop in voter turnout. A method to possibly help this situation is to lengthen the terms of some elected officials, such as the Governor. Were the Governor to have a 4-year term, Vermonters would only have to devote half the time and effort they currently do towards the campaign for the governorship, thus making them more likely to care to do so.
In another way, the average voter often feels alienated from the political process. This means that voters feel powerless and that the political system does not listen to their input. In, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam outlines this idea, claiming,
“America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital (the sum of the face-to-face civic interactions among citizens in a society)” Putnam cites television and other media as ways that introvert the voter, alienating them from the coming-together of the traditional political process. In order to remedy this situation, voters must feel confident that their votes are accurately represented and respected in the political system. Therefore, it needs to be impressed, at a very personal level, that votes directly influence the actions of government. The only way to do this is through state-wide education and a shift in the social stigma surrounding voting. Voters must ultimately be

able to confidently ensure that their government represents their needs and serves them.
There are resources currently available to voters, especially young voters, meant to attract them to the voting process. The first of these are get-out-the-vote movements, meant to register young voters. By just a simple Google search of “register to vote”, Vermont voters can register to vote online on sites like RocktheVote.com, enabling them to register from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, political campaigns have turned to internet hubs as ways to gain voter support. Voters can follow Barack Obama’s reelection campaign of Facebook, Twitter, and
BarackObama.com. At a more local level, Vermont voters have the unique opportunity to attend Town Meeting Day and gain enthusiasm for the political process by watching it play out in their own community. With these tools, it’s now easier than ever to become involved in the political process as a young voter.
Although the state constitution guarantees the right to vote to all qualified adults, many do not take advantage of this privilege. Many feel apathetic and alienated form the political process. However, as more and more young people are connected with computers and mobile devices, the youth of America has the potential to become more and more involved in their political system. The youth of America may just become the generation that truly proves that America can become a government by the people, for the people.