Despite being blessed with the freedom to vote, the vast majority of college-aged voters opt not to participate in the election process, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The results of a study released last month show that voter apathy among voters aged 18 to 24 year olds is at an all-time high. Statistics from the bureau reveal only a dismal 33 percent of that age group took part in the 2000 presidential election.
"It's a disturbing fact that most young people don't participate in the electoral process, but I think they're just fed up with politics and all the stuff that goes on," said Brian Monaghan, executive director of the New Mexico Democratic Party. "It's hard for them not to be apathetic when they think their vote makes no difference."
Monaghan said he thinks the rate of young people willing to vote will continue to decline until politicians find a way to appeal to their needs.
"They're definitely not doing that now, and that has to change," he said.
The bureau's study found that in the 2000 election all other age groups turned out in force, registering near-record participation totals, making the younger age groups absence that much more troubling, Monaghan said.
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Americans are very lucky to have the ability to voice their opinions about who the leaders of the country should be, he said, and it's a shame they don't take advantage of that privilege.
"It's really a sad commentary on the entire system," Monaghan said.
Scott Darnell of the New Mexico Federation of College Republicans said while college-aged voters have a history of not showing up when it's time to cast their vote, he's confident this year will be different.
He said the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 shocked young Americans into realizing that their government is making decisions on their behalf.
"The absence of our votes is leaving out the voices of an important segment of the population," Darnell said. "Hopefully more young people will realize that if they want to see the country ran the way they want, they have to do their part."
During the 2000 presidential election, the people who participated in the process the most were homeowners, married couples, older people and those with higher incomes and educations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's findings.
Younger voters, those 18 to 24 years old, aren't willing to participate because neither of the two major political parties, the Republicans and Democrats, represent them any more, said Trey Smith, president of UNM's College Green Party.
"Why should younger Americans vote if none of the politicians are actively trying to accommodate their interests?" Smith said.
Smith said the UNM College Greens actively tries to register voters during events on campus every year, and that it is important for young people to become active in determining who leads this country. Before that can happen, though, he said politicians need to do their part to recognize their worth.
"Still, we need to realize that we are the future of this country and take the reigns of our government," he said.
