Geaux Vote LSU and Student Government teamed up to launch a new online voter registration service called TurboVote on April 4. TurboVote works with a number of colleges, universities and other organizations to promote political participation nationally.
College voter turnout increased by 3 percent during the 2016 presidential cycle, but it still was below half of the total college population at 48.3 percent. Overall, voter turnout was at a 20-year-low.
The initiative to get more 18- to 21-year-old voters needs to be a primary goal for both sides of the political spectrum. Doing this will ensure representatives in Washington accurately convey the views of all their constituents.
It is no secret the majority of college students are perceived to be more liberal, and the Democratic Party assumes this demographic will support them at the polls.
Based on the number of college students who actually voted in 2016, Democrats are missing out on more than half of a possible voting community. College engagement in politics does not automatically translate to voting.
If Republican strategists were smart, they would redirect some of the money they receive from the National Rifle Association to target these potential voters. Clearly, the GOP is committed to literally being the Grand Old Party, banking on the fact that individuals tend to get more conservative as they age.
Promoting civic engagement before and during college would benefit both parties. If political ideology was learned and adopted early on, less time would be spent arguing on mere social issues. Young people are not civically engaged before they get to the voting age.
Many people think it is because of a lack of civics education, but all 50 states require some sort of instruction on civics or government. Around 90 percent of students actually do take at least one civics class.
The real problem is the lack of true engagement. Community service, guided debates, critical discussion and simulations are just some ways to promote engagement early, according to the National Education Association. Promoting engagement early will all but ensure political participation as kids get older and are able to contribute.
So why don’t political parties actively target young constituents more effectively? Starting to promote political participation in colleges around the country sounds like a no-brainer.
Today, political parties depend on divisive rhetoric and social issues to stir up people and bring them to the polls. The lack of knowledge of the importance of working democracy is detrimental to society.
Frankly speaking, Democrats and Republicans undervalue millions of potential voters just to please what they see as their “base.” If we have to have this constantly dysfunctional two-party system, the least the two parties can do is make themselves relevant and available to all Americans.
Justin Franklin is a 19-year-old political communication freshman from Memphis, Tennessee.
