Voting for the future

Because of a rise in voting power, candidates reach out to millenial voters

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of eligible voters in the millennial generation has recently surpassed the baby boomer generation, but they are not showing up at the polls.

Millennials are gaining a significant amount of voting power after the baby boomer’s power peaked in 2004 with members of that generation dying and getting older, but the millennials aren’t using it, according to NPR.

An NPR article reports that millennials have the lowest voter turnout of any age group.

In fact, only 46 percent voted in the last presidential election.

Christina Ostmeyer, a fellow at Young Invincibles, an organization educating young adults on issues such as higher education, health care and jobs, said millennials are feeling disenchanted with the system.

“There’s so many students out there who just feel like their voice doesn’t matter,” Ostmeyer said.

“If they have to vote, yes, they’re showing up, doing their civic duty, but they inevitably think that it isn’t going to matter.”

Brian Bosche, a former journalist and bestselling author, said millennials should not back away from the election because they do not agree with the candidate’s character.

“People think that voting is about personally endorsing a candidate and if that candidate doesn’t reflect my character and all of my principles I can’t vote for that candidate, but voting actually represents something far bigger than that,” Brian Bosche said.

“Voting represents choosing a strategic direction for your county.”

Bestselling author and president of The Millennial Solution, which provides corporate training for young professionals, Gabrielle Bosche said millennials need to fight for their future with the power they are given.

“We’ve been entrusting politicians to make decisions about our health care — they screwed it up — student debt — screwed it up, and about taxes, regulations and our ability to even start more companies,” Gabrielle Bosche said.

“They’re continuing to screw it up. If things keep going the way they’re going now, we’re not going to have a future. We’re not going to have opportunity.”

Brian Bosche said there are consequences of not voting.

“Not showing up to vote, even though it’s your choice, will have a consequence in an election,”

Brian Bosche said. “There is no consequence-free zone when you’re talking about voting. I think we as millennials and other generations have to think about those consequences and what those effects are because you’re responsible for them at the end of the day.”

Ostmeyer believes young adults need to make it to the polls for the upcoming election.

“The fact that we live in the United States and have the ability to vote, it’s not just a duty, but it’s really a privilege,” Ostmeyer said.

“Even if there aren’t candidates that reflect your own views, I think it’s important to go to the polls and make that known because there is power in numbers, and I think that millennials have a really important voice that they can bring to the table.”

Brian Bosche said millennials have an opportunity to have their voice heard in the upcoming presidential election.

“This is an opportunity for millennials to demand that (the candidates) do listen but also an opportunity for candidates to bridge a generational divide that can be pretty toxic,” Brian Bosche said.

Gabrielle Bosche said voting is a clear sign of maturity — a healthy way of getting involved in the American process.

“Millennials are going to start to take ownership of their America, and we haven’t really seen that in the past,” Gabrielle Bosche said.

“Voting is such an amazing way to not only participate in the American process but to say ‘I’m an adult’.”

The millennial generation could have a definite sway in the upcoming election.

The question is if they are going to use it.

“We have a lot of power, not just in our numbers but in the policies that we hold near and dear to our hearts and the ones that are going to impact our generation,” Ostmeyer said.

“We need to make sure that the politicians are listening, and one way to get them to listen is to show up on Election Day.”

Panyard is a news reporter.