Election Day has been a holiday to me akin to Valentine’s Day or Saint Patty’s since I was old enough to stand next to the ballot box. While I have to admit that the excitement of the day was likely due to the ceremonious donuts my parents would get me after I watched them vote (the “I voted” sticker claimed, of course, by me), I am now more agitated to get to the polls than to leave them.
As a senior in high school whose political frustrations include being a mere two months short from voting in the upcoming midterms, I feel even more motivated to help those without this problem to vote. In this time when it feels like the government is completely apathetic towards its citizens, it can be hard to remember how crucial our 26th amendment is–especially now.
While I can’t magically imbue anyone with the joyful childhood memories that drive me to political advocacy, here is the information that new voters can use in this upcoming election!
- Voting 101: check for eligibility
- You are both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana; and
- You will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next General or Municipal Election, and
- You are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime; and
- You have lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election; and
- You are registered to vote.
(copy/pasted from in.gov)
NOTE: even if you are 17 now (or at the registration deadline) you can still register if you will be 18 by November 3rd!
- Get registered TODAY
- If you haven’t registered, do so ASAP; the registration cutoff is October 5th, and it takes 5 minutes
- The easiest way to register is online through the official Indiana Voting Portal
If you have a valid Indiana driver’s license or state ID, you can use the site to:
• Register to vote
• Check whether you’re already registered
• Update your registration
• Find your polling place
• Preview your ballot
- You can also register by mail or in person if you’d rather. Whichever way you choose, it’s worth double-checking a few weeks later that your registration actually went through.
Why should I vote?
There is an unfortunate trend of registered voters not making it to the polls on Election Day–while this is true even for general elections that get citizens involved the most (Indiana had a 62% voter turnout for the 2024 presidential election), the numbers drop significantly for the seemingly less important ones such as the midterms (which are very much important, as they determine our Senate and House of Representatives), with Indiana’s turnout in 2022 being a mere 40%. (in.gov)
The most baffling statistic I have heard, though, is that young people–the ones who will be affected in the long term by the decisions and policies created in coming years–are the least likely people to vote. In both the 2018 and 2022 general elections, voters aged 18-29 only accounted for around 10% of voters for both years, with the majority of voters (60% or more) being 50+ years old.
While midterm or other less-sensationalized elections may not excite citizens towards democratic participation as much as the presidential ones, they are nevertheless crucial for the direction our country heads for the two following years. After all, no matter how ambitious or focused a president is in their missions, their agenda can only succeed with the support of Congress.
Whether you are nearing 18 or have been apathetic towards elections in the past, now is the time to participate. Register, find your local polling site, and learn about who/what’s on the upcoming ballot at the Indiana Voter Portal. If you are already politically active, consider asking/encouraging friends and family if they are registered and voting, or even door-to-door registering people.
Regardless of your political affiliation, organization of the House and Senate is pivotal for what we see play out at a federal level. The reason we have seen the absolute authority and relatively unchecked decision-making from our president these past 2 years is primarily because Congress has been so compliant. As there is currently a Republican majority in both the House, Senate, and Executive, we can see that representation is partisan and the single party dominates Washington. Unfortunately, the reason for this is largely due to the US’s alarmingly low voter turnout.
Though it can be hard to remember with the skewed messages of when America is or was supposed to be, the truth is that the government is supposed to represent the people, not parties. Though one vote may seem insignificant, the votes of all eligible voters could determine an election, reform the healthcare system, or send us into war. Agenda aside, if we want to be represented, it starts with voting.
