Young voters disenchanted

By Aarti Totlani
Iowa City Press-Citizen

National statistics indicate that the percentage of voters between ages 18 and 24 could be lower than ever this November because issues such as Social Security and Medicare, debated by presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush, don't appeal to students, analysts say.

A political science associate professor says that UI will reflect the low 18-24 voting rate nationally. But some UI students say they still plan to show up at the election booth, even though they aren't excited about the issues.

"I don't really feel that the issues are important to us, but I still really feel it's important to vote," said 21-year-old UI senior Jesse Sumstad. "In terms of Medicare and health care, those don't pertain to us."

"I don't find it interesting; I think it's a bunch of crap," said 18-year-old UI freshman Tony Rocca. "The more I hear the candidates speak, the less I want to hear before I vote."

UI senior Marvin Edwards said he had stopped following election issues some years ago.

"I don't see any issues that would help me personally," Edwards said, referring to this year's election. "And both candidates are going to tell you what you want to hear, and they're not going to act on it."

But Edwards said he will still vote to have a voice in the political process.

However, UI medical student Kevin Pothoven said he does not plan to vote.

"I think the issues are relevant, but it's also 40 years away before it's going to affect me," Pothoven said. "And I don't see much difference in the candidates."

UI professor Cary Covington says issues have very little to do with why some students don't vote.

"No matter what's talked about, they wouldn't vote anyway," said Covington, a UI associate professor in political science. Covington added that he didn't expect the voting rate among UI students to be higher than students who attend other universities.

A few UI students said they care about issues such as saving Social Security and Medicare because decisions made now could impact them in the future.

"Maybe some of the issues don't affect me right now, but hopefully, in four years from now, when I have a job, it will affect me - whether it's my retirement plans or how the job market is," said UI senior Endia Mosby.

"And even if it doesn't affect me right now, it will affect my grandmother and my mother," Mosby continued. "The choices we make can make a huge difference. That's why I think voting is crucial."

Some other UI students said that they would vote because of their interest in issues such as abortion, the death penalty, education and the environment.

"This is the first time there's a real way to change American politics with Ralph Nader," said UI junior Mitch Day, referring to the Green Party presidential candidate. "If Nader wasn't there, it would be hard to get up the motivation to vote, because the other candidates don't represent me."

Let us know what you think of this story...