The importance of being (an) earnest (voter)

With the craziness of the upcoming presidential election, it looks as though more and more people are spreading the word about (and the love of) voting. People have turned out in record droves to caucus and vote in the primaries. Civic loyalty seems to be at the highest it’s been in recent years.

The odd thing is, while voting for the next president does have an impact on the course of history, most of the events that will impact voters’ day-to-day lives are decided on the local level — where hardly anyone is voting.

Where are the buttons, pamphlets, fliers and Facebook groups for local candidates and levies? Our representatives in Olympia and our judges at the local courts make the most immediate decisions that impact our lives and those around us, from our parents and grandparents to our younger siblings.

Next week, the Associated Students of the University of Washington will hold their general elections. In past years, voter turnout has been in the low thousands.

Why are we so apathetic about voting for the people who could change the way we live right now? These are the students who will help allocate funds for whatever club or program might request it. These are the students who will represent our needs when it comes to safety and conduct concerns. These students are us.

Take a few extra minutes out of your day to exercise your right to vote. It won’t have an impact on national health care, the environment or our troops in Iraq. But it will have an impact — whether you realize it or not — on you and the students who will follow you.