While Gov. Bobby Jindal is flying around the country campaigning, Louisiana voters will have the chance next week to change the tone of the higher education debate in the state.
Voting booths will open their doors Tuesday as state residents will choose their next senator, lieutenant governor and the fate of various state constitutional amendments.
The senatorial candidates include incumbent Republican David Vitter and Democrat U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, while the choices for lieutenant governor — possibly this year’s most important race — are Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and Democrat Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans lawyer.
While the lieutenant governor is usually only known for being the leader of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in the governor’s absence, the lieutenant governor steps in to take his or her place.
And with Jindal likely to be out of Louisiana during heavy debates about higher education funding, whoever wins the lieutenant governorship will have a strong say in how higher education will survive.
Election officials are hoping for a dismal voter turnout of 35 percent on Tuesday. If that projection becomes a reality, University students could have a significant sway — if we actually get out and vote.
According to Census data, Louisiana has an estimated population of 4.5 million, with about 3.4 million of legal voting age. That means a 35 percent voter turnout would come to roughly 1.2 million.
This is a “best case scenario” model. In reality, all those of legal voting age are not registered voters — nor will all registered voters show up to vote on Tuesday.
But even with the highly idealized expectation of 1.2 million voters, if all of the roughly 23,600 University students voted on Tuesday, it would potentially account for about 2 percent of the total vote.
If we include students from the rest of the LSU System campuses in Alexandria, Eunice, Shreveport and New Orleans, as well as the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, the total number of voters climbs to roughly 3.7 percent.
While 3.7 percent seems small, consider this: With how tightly contested the senate and lieutenant governor elections are expected to be, that number could easily swing the vote one way or another.
With our state leaders caring less and less about higher education every day, there’s never been a better time for students to care for them.
We have a chance to be heard on Tuesday. Rethink the importance of our state’s second-in-command post.
 
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