Talk is one thing, action is another

Young Americans are more politically interested, but will they vote?

In the last year, there have been countless stories of young people pushing for change.

The movement arose in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Seventeen were killed that day, and the tragedy seemed to be the final straw for students across the nation. They joined the debate on gun safety, pushing for change.

However, the big question remains to be answered: will those same young people turn out to vote?

Traditionally, seeing a young voter at the polls is like finding a giant panda in the wild — everyone wants to see them, but they are elusive and rarely spotted. Perhaps that tide is turning. According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MTV, 46 percent of people ages 15-34 now believe they can have at least a moderate effect on government. AP reports the increase is significant compared to two months ago, when 37 percent said the same thing. That age group is typically the least likely to vote.

The poll also found that two-thirds of the age group say they think the government is not functioning well, and 52 percent say they rarely or never read or watch news about the midterm elections. That last number is an unsettling one. If one is concerned about the government’s performance, one should pay attention to who is in office — and that means following the news leading up to the vote.

It’s one thing to be mad, and peacefully protesting is an escalation of that anger. But if one truly wants to make a difference, one has to first get educated on the candidates and issues, and then, show up and vote.

It’s easy to register to vote in Arizona. To be eligible to vote in the August primary election, one must be registered to vote by July 30. Visit www.ServiceArizona.com, and click on the link in the middle of the page. Or, stop by the Yuma County Recorder’s Office, 197 S. Main St.

Given all the discussion and protest this spring, it will be interesting to see if these young voters follow those steps.

What do you think, readers? Will those younger potential voters register and vote this year, or no? Let us know your thoughts. Comment at www.YumaSun. com, or send us a Letter to the Editor at letters@ yumasun.com.