Have you registered to vote yet? In the coming weeks, millions of Americans will go to the polls and vote in primary elections to decide the candidates on the upcoming ballot for November’s election. Millions more will pass up the opportunity. According to States United Democracy Center, “On average, more than half of general election voters do not vote in primary elections.” However, participating in the primaries means framing the trajectory of political debates and ensuring that candidates address your concerns and priorities: The primaries’ importance cannot be overlooked.
If you are a resident of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, or American Samoa, you can cast a vote on one of the most important dates on the United States’ political calendar: Super Tuesday, Mar. 5. On that day, a third of all political candidates for local, statewide, and federal office across the United States will be nominated. The remaining states’ primaries will take place over the coming months.
These primaries are about much more than Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The primaries consist mostly of critical local elections — candidates for roles like district attorney, civil court, delegates to the judicial convention, and district leader are on the ballot. Often, these local races are decided by narrow margins, with only hundreds of votes determining the outcome. And while voters may perceive the candidates for the presidential race as predetermined and thus also see voting in the primaries as unimportant, participation in the primaries is critical because of the votes cast for local-level races. Criminal justice initiatives, social welfare policies, and climate reform are all legislated at the local level. The primaries are a direct opportunity to frame the political conversation and work toward progress.
The electoral process can seem combative, uninteresting, or confusing. We understand apathy and anger towards deadlocked politics. And it is frustrating to see your vote sometimes translate to inaction. But as members of EphVotes, the College’s nonpartisan voter registration group, we strongly encourage all community members to take advantage of this opportunity: Register to vote, request absentee ballots, and join your community’s political discourse.
Although young people make up the largest bloc of voters in the United States, in the last general election, only 23 percent cast a ballot. We have the opportunity to frame the political conversation and push our elected officials to prioritize our interests. When young people vote, politicians consider our demands directly; previous elections with high youth participation have encouraged politicians to prioritize issues young voters care about, such as debt relief and housing reform. Your vote, or lack thereof, in the primaries will indirectly catalyze policy change at home.
The upcoming primaries are a crucial aspect of political participation. The process can seem complex and overwhelming, but EphVotes is here to help. EphVotes will send you reminder emails with information and deadlines about the simple process of registering to vote in your home state, requesting an absentee ballot, and returning your absentee ballot. We are also a non-partisan resource for any questions and concerns you may have about the electoral process. More than anything, we hope to encourage you that voting is not a futile effort. You can shape the political agenda and use your voice to inspire change. Visit vote.org to vote in your state’s primary election today.
EphVotes is a nonpartisan, voter outreach group on campus.
[Editor’s note: Lena Kerest, an executive editor for the Record, is the president of EphVotes.]
