Low midterm election turnout expected among young adults
A new poll done by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics estimates that just 23 percent of Americans 18-29 years old plan to vote in the midterm elections next month.
In 2010, that number was just over 30 percent. Wednesday night we spoke with students at Brigham Young University – Idaho to take a local look at why this year’s number is so low.
Like many on campus, freshman Lindsey Rees isn’t a resident of Idaho.
“Being a freshman is hard enough, so having to register, I think, would just be a pain,” said Rees. “Especially since I’m not from here.”
Some students like Arizona native Olivia Anderson aren’t exactly sure how to register, so she said she likely won’t vote.
“Probably not,” said Anderson. “I don’t really know where to go, so I wouldn’t.”
Others just want to hold on to a little bit of home.
“I want to hold on to my citizenship in Texas and I haven’t even been following anything here in Idaho,” said freshman Carli Richardson.
Some, like Idaho Falls native Kegan Machen, are just now finding out the midterm election is even on the horizon.
“Now that I’ve heard about it, I mean, I can definitely plan to vote,” said Machen. “I’ll have to do my research to make sure who I vote for is the right decision, but yeah I can definitely vote.”
Sam Day, a junior from North Carolina, just became an Idaho resident and will soon be a registered voter.
“I’ve started filling it out at home,” said Day. “I haven’t finished it yet, so I plan on turning it in before the election, so I can vote.”
Day says this election just isn’t on the radar of young adults.
“The midterm elections are kind of forgotten,” said Day. “People don’t pay much attention to what senator is representing them, or what representative is going to represent them in the House. Those things are of concern because those people make the laws, so that’s kind of concerning.”
Harvard University’s Institute of Politics also found that 44 percent of those who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 say they will vote next month. Only 35 percent of 2012 Obama voters said the same.
