Bernie Sanders has no doubt rallied young voters, but for those who hope for the political revolution and change they feel he can bring, just turning out during presidential election years won’t be enough.
Writing for Elite Daily, Kurt Lynch, who is a young Sanders supporter himself, warned that “a president can only do so much,” and reminded readers that liberal policies won’t simply come about by electing a liberal president. Young voters will also need to participate in Supreme Court, state government, and congressional elections to see the kind of change they desire.
While no presidential race occurred in 2014, the midterm election still made a difference, allowing Republicans to hold the House of Representatives and take the Senate. And yet, less than 20 percent of those under 30 voted. As Lynch acknowledged, “turning out for your local congressional vote is much less sexy than voting for a ‘revolution.'”
He also noted that millennials are understandably “disillusioned with politics,” due to the unique set of challenges facing the generation, like student loan debt and slower economic growth.
Youth problems can’t be solved simply by electing a liberal president; it will take higher turnout rate in other races, and in other years. Lynch closed with the thought that young voters may “just have to acquire a taste for the less glamorous side of politics.”
Millennials make up a large block of voters and do have the potential to make a change. However, they don’t see themselves as politically engaged, even in an election year, and think there are better ways to get involved besides voting. Without a Bernie Sanders or Barack Obama running, only time will tell if young voters will find enough motivation to heed the call.
