Your Vote Matters

By: Aimee Adams

With the presidential election right around the corner, college campuses across the US are urging students to vote. What is the deciding factor for most college students’ votes; are they taking their vote seriously?

Beringia Zen, a Religious Studies teacher at Avila University, asked her Catholicism class, “How many of you are voting?” Nearly every hand in the class shot up. Zen proceeded to ask, “How many of you think your vote counts?” Five fingers is more than enough, to count the number of students who left their hands raised.

If students believe their votes’ don’t count, then why are they voting? Keiana Moyer, a junior at Avila University, said, “I’m voting for the candidate that is going to keep me in school.” Moyer was referring to governmental financial aid. When asked if Moyer believed her vote counted she said, “I don’t think my vote alone counts; no.”

Brittanie Grado, a Mizzou graduate, said her vote along with every individual’s vote, absolutely counts, “If it didn’t matter I wouldn’t bother.” When asked if students should vote even if they aren’t fully informed on the election, Grado said yes and further explained to say, “People have some sort of opinion based on a belief if they are actually considering to vote.”

Shelby Fletcher, also a junior at Avila University said, “I’m voting for Obama.” When asked if she followed the election closely, Fletcher replied she had not.

Curtis Churchman, a sophomore at Avila University said, “Yeah, I’m voting for Romney because Obama had his time.”

For a majority of college students, their votes are decided by word-of-mouth opinion, or whom their parents vote for. To some, a blind vote is worse than not voting at all. If students came to the realization that their vote matters, blind voting could be prevented.  One vote might not count, but one vote from everyone does count.  

Voting is a privilege that many individuals don’t have. Grado said, “I feel like it’s my duty to vote because there are people who have sacrificed their lives to make this country what it is and it would be a dishonor to them if I didn’t.” College students need to know that their vote does matter. If they believed that their vote could make a difference, there might be a lot less blind voting and a lot more well informed voters.