Voter registration processes and requirements

Voting is one of the most important rights in a democratic society. In the United States, this right has been intermittently fought for by minority groups such as black people, women and others. It is a right that has been earned by pioneers and fighters, and one that is being taken for granted all too easily in today's society. According to a column by Hillary Clinton (2001) for example, young people between the ages of 18 and 24 are losing interest in voting. A survey conducted by the National Association of Secretaries of State concludes that this generation may become the first class of non-voters. This does not bode well for the United States of the future. The country's past is riddled with struggle in order to reach the state of democracy that everybody enjoys today. The right to vote is one of the most important privileges granted by this democracy, but Americans are losing touch with the importance of voting.

According to Leidy (2002) the voting electorate percentage dropped from 1960, at 63%, to fewer than 40% in 1996. It is thus clear that there is a crisis in the American public that needs to be addressed. Leidy cites Lyndon Johnson's words, that voting is "the first duty of democracy." Americans are however increasingly asking themselves the question of what the importance is of voting. Generally, there are a number of objections that Americans have against the act of voting.

Firstly, especially young people are not given sufficient reason for voting, and are increasingly asking themselves why they should vote. The reasons for this question are numerous. One of these is the view that a single vote can make little difference in a country where millions of voters decide the final outcome. Another reason is that politicians appear corrupt, relying mostly on their advertising personnel and the size of their budgets to gain votes, rather than making sincere promises and changes that could and should affect people's lives. It therefore appears that a particular sense of cynicism has taken hold of the youth, as far as politics is concerned.

Furthermore, young people feel ignored by politicians, and that sufficient information about the politics and results of voting is not reaching them. Mostly however, the reason why young people tend not to vote is when their parents do not vote. This occurs for two reasons. Parents, not being particularly inclined towards politics, do not discuss any of the issues with their children, and secondly such parents tend not to vote themselves. This influences their children not to vote either and the cycle continues for generations.

In the interest of the future of the United States and its political health then, it is vitally important that young people and their parents alike be informed of the importance of voting and being involved in politics.

One way of connecting young people with the importance of voting is to focus on areas of personal importance to them. Young people for example have shown themselves to be caring citizens, being involved in charitable volunteer projects. The majority of young people also are of the opinion that the most important part of their American citizenship entails helping others. This paradigm can then be used to help them realize how they can make a difference through voting. There is also a trend towards service learning in schools, which can be greatly beneficial when educating young people about the usefulness of being involved in politics. Through the programs that they care about, young people can be shown how these issues are affected by their votes, and how even an individual vote can make important changes in society.

According to Leidy, the American citizens under 20 in the country amount to 70.2 million. This is the segment of society that is being taught not to vote by the examples of their parents and their peers. This is because people are not educated about the importance of even one vote in changing history, or things in society that need changing.

A hopeful sign, apart from their caring attitude, is young people's tendency to be less pessimistic than their elders, along with caring about issues such as education, violence, the economy, jobs and equal opportunities. It should therefore be impressed upon these people that all of the current issues, including global warming and national debt, are influenced by politics and indeed by voters. The voter has the power to change things through a single mark on the ballot. This power is a privilege that has been won by hard work in the history of the country. Perhaps this is the starting point from which educator should work to bring young people into the political scene. Young people spend many of their waking hours at school. This time should be used to educated them not only on the importance of voting, but also on the sacrifices made by their forefathers to bring the current democracy into existence.

Specific solutions could therefore entail implementing programs in schools where prominent politicians are invited to speak to children about politics and how voting makes a difference. These speeches can then be followed by a question and answer sequence where children are allowed to ask questions and make comments regarding the process of voting. Furthermore, individual classes could also focus on politics and how young people specifically may make a difference.

Another good initiative was mentioned by Hillary Clinton. The "Motor Voter" law for example entailed that young people register to vote as soon as they receive their driver's license. This however should be followed up by voter education, so that young people are encouraged to vote and made aware of the benefits of voting.

The Internet is another excellent resource to use for this. Schools are increasingly privileged with Internet connections, and thus young people could at their leisure find informative and interesting web sites in order to educate themselves regarding the voting process and the benefits thereof.

Another important aspect of education is making young people aware of the processes that led to the United States' democracy as it currently exists. They should also be aware that voting for all sectors of society is a hard-earned right that should be exercised by all who have it. Schools can also educate children regarding less privileged countries, where democracy is no more than a dream. Indeed, citizens from countries just emerging into the democratic paradigm stand in line for hours on end to exercise their new voting rights.