YOUR VOTE does not matter. That is what political pundits say about student voters. In the 2010 mid-term election, only 21.3 percent of all U.S. citizens between the ages of 18-24 voted. Many students do not vote today because they believe voting does not affect them.
Yet voting has a direct effect on every individual citizen. Representatives make decisions that impact college tuition, the job market or even the wars a country fights.
This November, Virginia residents can go to the polls to elect a variety of new representatives, including state senators and members of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Upcoming Issues in the Virginia General Assembly\nYour newly elected state senators and delegates will be legislating on a variety of issues that will affect your life. By voting on Election Day, you can voice your opinion about leading Virginia issues such as job creation, transportation and absentee voting.
The economy is the number one concern for all Americans right now, and this rings true for Virginians as well.
Cleveland Anderson, the Republican candidate for the 52nd House district, wants to bring more international corporations to Virginia, which he says also will bring more jobs. His opponent, incumbent Del. Luke Torian, disagrees and instead wants Virginia businesses to dominate.
Democratic Del. Linda T. Puller of the 36th Senate district and her Republican challenger Jeff Frederick agree on eliminating the Business Professional Occupancy License Tax. This tax is based on gross receipts, meaning businesses that only break even still have to pay the tax. Candidates hope that getting rid of this tax will allow Virginia's economy to flourish.
Transportation is an issue for all Virginians. Whether you drive on the congested roads of Northern Virginia or the poorly maintained roads of Southwest Virginia, every area needs better infrastructure.
Democratic candidate Esteban Garces for Virginia's 2nd House district proposes extending the Metro to Prince William County. He says it will bring jobs to the area and create a stronger tax base that will help fund other county initiatives. His opponent, Republican Mark Dudenhefer, disagrees because of the project's high costs to taxpayers.
Puller and Frederick also agree on changing the gas tax so that it is based on a percentage of the total fuel cost. This would replace the current per-gallon flat tax, and the hope is that it would generate additional tax revenues that could be funneled into more transportation projects.
Absentee voting also is an issue that affects all University students, and it will be coming up in debates in the next General Assembly.
Torian is in favor of expanding absentee voting. Several states allow a "no-excuse necessary" absentee voting procedure, where voters do not have to provide an excuse as to why they cannot vote on Election Day.
Torain hopes to bring this to Virginia. He said it is every citizen's right to vote, and the government should provide every opportunity for them to do so. His opponent Anderson disagreed, saying relaxed voting procedures will cause citizens to become more apathetic than they already are about voting.
What are your opinions on these issues? How you vote will affect how the General Assembly legislates in its next session.
How Do I Vote?\nFirst, are you registered to vote? You are eligible to register if you are a U.S. citizen and 18 years of age or older on Election Day. You must register to vote before you can go to the polls on Election Day.
The Voter Registration Coalition can help you register to vote. You can find us every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. tabling outside Newcomb Dining Hall. We are a completely student-run, non-partisan organization supported by the Center for Politics.
If you are already registered to vote, you can do one of two things: You can choose to vote absentee in your hometown elections, or you can re-register to vote in Charlottesville.
Remember that you have to re-register to vote every time you move.
There are advantages to both. Some students prefer to influence the politics of their hometowns, and they therefore vote absentee. Others like the convenience of going to a local polling station on Election Day here in Charlottesville. The choice is yours.
You also can receive absentee ballot applications at our voter registration table every Thursday outside Newcomb. Mail your application to your hometown registrar, and you will be sent a ballot by mail.
However you choose to vote, the important part is that you vote and exercise the rights that others have fought for you to have.
If students do not vote, they forfeit their role in U.S. democracy and their influence upon the future. Young adults cannot and should not complain about the actions of an elected representative. They should vote instead.
Alicia Chan and Max O'Beirne are members of the Voter Registration Coalition.
Read More
CARTER: U.Va. Health owes clarity to transplant patients
By Nathaniel Carter | 3 days agoUnfortunately, this negative press is fully the fault of U.Va. Health — it failed to address significant stakeholder concerns when crafting its justification.
EDITORIAL: Upholding medical amnesty is a collective effort
By Editorial Board | 3 days agoUniversity leadership, Greek life organizations and students themselves must recommit to the safety provided by an effective and knowledgeable use of medical amnesty.
KURTZWEIL: Dockworkers’ unions cannot avoid the threat of automation
By Paul Kurtzweil | 5 days agoInstead of continuing to demand decreased automation, the union should work with the legislature in the hopes of driving investment into the reorganization of the current workforce.
