Democratic ideals are a force with which to be reckoned. Democracy characterized much of Ancient Greece; Enlightenment thinkers theorized about it, even Leonard Cohen wrote poetry and songs exploring the topic. The desire to have a say in what governs us is something inherently human.
Last week, the Ignited Class Cabinet elections took place. Tuesday night, Sept. 21, in the Stuce, the candidates each gave a speech to a nearly empty room. Despite the sparse crowd, the candidates passionately outlined who they were and what they wish to achieve if elected. There was one thing every candidate had in common: a servant’s heart. Though candidates came from various backgrounds, their desire to serve and represent their peers unified them. That is something we as citizens long for: to be heard and to have our needs represented.
Last Thursday, Sept. 23, the Ignited Class Sponsor, Sam Diaz, said that voter participation had “been slow so far” but on Friday, Diaz said that turnout “was more than we anticipated!” Even so, Diaz is committed to finding ways to get students more interested in the class cabinet.
In the past 50 years, in federal elections, youth voter (aged 18-29) turnout has fluctuated from just 40 percent to 55 percent, according to Statista. Young people historically have done a poor job of democratic participation. But why? Being able to vote is a right that many people are not granted. Permanent legal residents cannot vote if they are not a citizen. In most of the nation, people who are or have been incarcerated cannot vote. U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories cannot vote (this included residents of Washington D.C. until 1964).
Whatever happened to the zeal inspired by James Otis’ words in 1761, “taxation without representation is tyranny”? These people who cannot vote are still subjected to the same laws and taxations that the rest of the nation is. Our forefathers fought the greatest military in the world for this right to democracy, and many people won’t even take advantage of that right, much less defend it for those who can’t.Ignited Class, you did a good enough job at showing up to vote for the class cabinet. But, Asbury students, make it your mission to perform your civil duty of voting— if not for yourself, then for the millions of people in this nation that are denied that right.
