Young voters have the potential to significantly impact this year’s presidential and Texas primary election as early voting has already begun.
A segment of these young Texans, however, are experiencing a sense of disconnection from their government.
Marlee Claes, a sophomore at St. Edward’s University, holds a strong belief in the significance of all levels of voting. However, she expresses her dissatisfaction with the candidates for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Claes expressed a desire for a mainstream candidate who truly reflects both their peers and themselves, not only in terms of background but also in policy and initiatives.
Many students have expressed concerns about the March primaries, with some feeling uninformed or unaware of it, although they still plan to cast their vote in the upcoming election.
Ethan Xu, an active member of the University of Texas chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, is encouraging his fellow students to exercise their right to vote. Xu firmly believes in the power of the youth voice and wants to inspire his peers to make a difference by participating in the democratic process.
Xu emphasized the significance of participating in the American system, stating that it is crucial for preserving our democracy during elections. As a young conservative, Xu believes that actively engaging in the political process is of utmost importance.
According to Xu, the low voter turnout can be attributed to the fact that people are dissatisfied with both political parties.
He encouraged individuals to make their voices heard by voting for a third party if they believe that neither of the existing political parties represents them.
In previous primary years, voter turnout has been low, particularly among young people. According to a data report conducted on the Texas Secretary of State voting list, out of nearly 3.7 million registered voters aged 18-29, only 923,000 cast their votes in the 2022 primaries. This accounts for just about one in four young voters.
Texas Rising is dedicated to connecting students with their government and involving them in the democratic process through electoral initiatives and civic engagement. Maggie Disanza, a UT Austin student and campus organizer for Texas Rising, highlights the significance of the youth vote in shaping their own future.
According to Disanza, every action taken by politicians and public policymakers has a direct impact on our lives, whether it is at the local, state, or federal level. Moreover, these actions also affect the people in our immediate surroundings. Hence, it is crucial that we actively participate and demonstrate our concern for the decisions made in our government.
Xu’s group aims to attract young conservatives, while both he and Disanza are committed to boosting youth voter turnout. Voting can be challenging for young people, as they often face various obstacles in reaching the polls.
At the University of Texas, students have the convenience of an on-campus early voting site. However, this is not the case for St. Edward’s University. Unfortunately, students at St. Edward’s have to travel 1.2 miles to the nearest polling site, which takes approximately 30 minutes by foot. This poses a challenge for students who do not have access to transportation.
During the SEU Student Government Association meeting on February 8, Student President Mikayla Pastrano shared an exciting collaboration between student organizations. The aim of this collaboration is to facilitate early voting for students by providing shuttle services to the South Austin Recreation Center early voting site. The first shuttle service was already initiated on Wednesday, and they have plans to offer additional shuttles on February 27 and March 1. These shuttles will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., ensuring easy access for students to exercise their right to vote.
According to Disanza, state and local elections hold greater importance than federal elections due to the lower voter turnout. In these elections, every vote carries more weight, making them significant in shaping local governance.
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