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What Can We Do
to Get More Young People to Vote?
A recent
survey
conducted by Harvard University�s
Institute of Politics found that
83.5 % of undergraduate students had not been contacted by any political party
during the 2000 election season. Our system provides very few
reasons for candidates to reach out to young voters, which in turn
gives the 18-24 demographic little incentive to vote. The question
is simple: if there aren�t any candidates addressing issues of
importance to you � then what reason do you have to show up to the
polls? With many young adults and college students finding
little reason to turn out on election day and candidates spending even
less effort courting their vote, we must examine the system that has
created such a dilemma. There is an alternative. Through the use of
Full Representation voting systems, young people on college campuses
and in communities where their views are not the majority will be
able to gain representation. Full Representation increases
competiveness of races and expands the diversity and scope of the
issues being brought to the table. Our goal is two-fold: to educate
young adults across the country on the benefits of alternative
systems and how their opportunities to elect candidates of choice
will be increased through these systems and to provide the tools and
resources for these individuals and organizations to mobilize around
these issues. Getting young adults mobilized to advocate for better
election systems in their communities and on college campuses will
increase their ability to hold elected officials accountable, give
them the power to make a real difference at the polls, and provide
real opportunities to seek public office. The principle
of �full representation� voting systems�also
called �proportional representation��is a powerful one: the right of decision belongs
to a majority, but the right to representation belongs to us all.
The Center is committed to
working with local and national organizations in order to increase
youth civic engagement. We do workshops and presentations and
provide strategic support in order to increase the fairness of
elections for people of all ages. For more information contact
Rashad Robinson at [email protected]
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