MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In my day job as a journalism professor, I naturally spend most of my time around students at the University of Memphis. And Tuesday was a special one on campus as the university joined in observing National Voter Registration Day.
The aim was to not just encourage students 18 and older who are not registered, to do so, but to also recognize the huge impact that young people can have on the election process.
Remember, there were young people marching and demanding the expansion of voting rights to African Americans in the 1960s. Young people also helped push for the lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 in the 1970s. But the facts show that today, young people, 18 to 25, vote at much lower rates that any other age group. And it’s not entirely their fault.
Politicians, particularly in the Tennessee legislature, have made it more difficult for young people to vote. If you don’t believe it, just know that a handgun carry permit is acceptable identification to vote, but a legitimate college student photo ID is not.
So Tuesday, the emphasis nationwide is on voter registration, and then after registering, showing up at the polls and casting a ballot. I guarantee that if turnout among people 18 to 25 ever reaches 50%, the politicians would start paying more attention to that demographic. Because for any age group, voting equals power.
Find Tennessee's online voter registration system HERE.
Find Mississippi's online voter registration system HERE.
Find Arkansas' online voter registration system HERE.