On Election Day, eligible U.S. citizens can vote for officials who will represent them in government.
For many college students, becoming eligible to vote coincides with entering adulthood and beginning college.
Young adults are not just given the right but also the responsibility to choose who will be in office. The decisions of whether to vote and who to vote for can have a major effect on communities through decisions at the local, state and federal levels.
Rebecca Munson, associate professor and chair of the Department of Government and Public Policy in the Helms School of Government, encouraged students to exercise their rights as citizens.
“Voting is not only a right — it is a responsibility,” Munson said. “The health of our republic depends on consistent, informed participation, and it is your responsibility as an American to do your part.”
Despite this responsibility, fewer than half of U.S. adults under 30 say they voted in the 2024 presidential election, according to Pew Research Center. The study found that only 64% of adults under 30 follow national news somewhat closely, compared to 83% of older adults.
Elected officials write, approve and enforce policies, and voters get to decide who has that power. Whether they choose to vote or not, young adults live through the consequences, positive or negative, of the decisions that the officials make.
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) conducted a survey in 2022 that found that two out of five youths said they felt well-qualified to participate in politics and just under one out of four cast a ballot.
Munson said students do not need to be experts on every policy issue to be an informed voter, but they should have a basic understanding about all sides of an issue.
“Look at what is actually on the ballot and do some brief research on those specific candidates and proposals,” Munson said. “And talk with people who hold different political views. If you’re only listening to one set of arguments, you won’t even fully understand why you hold your own views.”
The younger generations have different perspectives and innovative ideas on how to make the government better.
“The future will be shaped by political decisions whether you choose to participate or not,” Munson said.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the smallest voter demographic was 18-29-year-olds, which made up 15.3% of those who voted. Young adults should fulfill this responsibility to promote their ideas and values through voting.
“Americans have given up their lives for your political freedoms and rights, including your right to vote,” Munson said.
Liberty University students who have not yet registered to vote, can complete same day voter registration in person in the Montview Alumni Ballroom on Election Day.
Twitchell is a feature editor for The Liberty Champion.