As the upcoming midterm elections approach, the White House is encouraging college students to vote, and the local community is trying to do the same.
President Barack Obama and his team began their effort last Thursday by visiting Cross Campus in Los Angeles, a business venue that mentors young professionals and entrepreneurs in their own businesses.
The Obama administration hopes that policies like student loan assistance, education spending, the new health care law and job-training programs will appeal to the millennial generation.
Stephen Craig, a UF professor and expert in voting and elections, said just because the White House is trying to get young voters to midterm elections, doesn’t mean it will actually work.
Young people are less engaged in politics and, therefore, less likely to participate in elections, he said.
The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website’s election results confirmed that in the 2010 midterm election, 804 out of 4,709 registered to vote at the Reitz Union actually voted.
Pam Carpenter, supervisor of elections for Alachua County, is a firm believer in the power of voting.
She said she hopes when students realize they still have power to vote, they will take more initiative at the polls.
“The people can still make any decision,” Carpenter said.
On Sept. 25, the Supervisor of Elections Office visited Murphy Hall to register voters but only had four registration applications turned in.
“Is it important to allow medical marijuana or no? Is it important to conserve land?” she said. “Whatever we vote on, we live with.”
Chris Cassada, a UF geology major, is part of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and tables on the Plaza of the Americas in support of medical marijuana. He said the issue resonates with the millennial generation because the marijuana taboo isn’t as apparent.
“I wish more young people would vote, especially considering the policies that are going to be put into place that are going to guarantee financial security,” Cassada, 23, said. “It’s our future.”
He registered students to vote until Oct. 6 and is now passing out absentee ballots.
Students can vote on campus at the Reitz Union, the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art on Nov. 4.
[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 10/15/2014]
