Given the state of the 2016 presidential campaign, Nov. 8 couldn’t come sooner for many of us. But we shouldn’t use cynicism as an excuse to sit this election out.
It goes without saying that this election cycle has been anything but typical. For the first time, a woman was named a candidate for a major political party. For the first time, a candidate has managed to face multiple allegations of sexual assault, racism, and disregard for fact, and still maintain a fighting chance for the Oval Office. And for the first time, a candidate has stated he will not accept the election’s results should he lose.
But regardless of how ugly the presidential race has become, students cannot afford to check out for this election. A lot is at stake, and that’s not just because a presidential candidate stands to override decades of social progress.
This year, California has a record number of ballot measures – over 15 propositions – affecting everything from legalizing marijuana to repealing the death penalty. Locally, Los Angeles stands to approve groundbreaking transportation measures and alleviate homelessness. The ballot is clearly packed for Californians, so the polling stations should be, too.
If there’s anything to show the stars have aligned for this election cycle, it’s that the BruinsVote! coalition has registered more than 10,000 UCLA students to vote, outpacing, by far, the 8,000 students registered in 2008 and 2,500 registered in 2014.
Now that BruinsVote! has done its part, student voters must keep up their end of the deal as this contentious election cycle comes to a climax. Presidential election coverage has focused more on candidates’ personalities rather than policies and there is no shortage of seemingly disenfranchising events. Everything from Donald Trump’s offensive remarks towards immigrants and Muslims to Hillary Clinton’s campaign potentially colluding with the Democratic National Convention to give her an unfair advantage over Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary election can turn student voters away in distaste.
That said, whether voters are strong supporters of one candidate or adamantly against both, stepping up to the voting booth is not just a civic duty, but a privilege we cannot take lightly.
It sounds like a cliche line from an elementary school civics lesson, but it’s true. Local and state measures have tangible effects on our everyday lives, and unless students head to the polls, big-money interest groups and corporations will be the ones writing the legislation for this cycle – literally.
According to Rafi Sands, USAC external vice president, BruinsVote! will continue its ground game next week to incentivize registered students to vote. He and other team members will distribute materials both in person and online, show students where to vote and hand out Diddy Riese cookies Tuesday to students with “I Voted” stickers.
In 2014, people aged 18 to 24 had a dismal voter turnout of 8 percent, the lowest among any different age demographic. But maybe it’s time for yet another campaign first. Next Tuesday, students have the chance to make their voices heard on a level not yet seen.
Everything from the political and economic stakes to the Diddy Riese cookies that await voters indicates that students must come out and perform their civic duty – on behalf of themselves, on behalf of those who are disenfranchised and on behalf of this country.
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