On July 1st, 1971, the 26th Amendment passed, granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. During the entirety of the Vietnam War, 18-year-olds fought tooth and nail to be able to vote since they could be drafted.  This Amendment had so much discussion behind it, that it was ratified in record time. So, 18-year-olds came out in droves to vote, right? Wrong. Since 18-year-olds were given the right to vote, 18-24 year-olds have never had above a 50 percent turnout. In 2020 this age group had their highest voter turnout, with around 50%. This trails other age demographics by 10-25 percent. 

So clearly, the youth simply doesn’t vote. This is for a variety of reasons. Including displeasure with both candidates, frustration with the system as a whole, missing registration deadlines, and not knowing how to request absentee ballots. Sandpoint tends to be an outlier in this statistic, as on a recent poll on the Cedar Post Instagram only 15 % percent of teens who are eligible to vote aren’t registered. While having a pocket of civic activism is certainly something to be proud of, that doesn’t change the story among the general youth… they need to get out to vote. 

Regardless of your personal feelings about the candidates, voting is the easiest way to get a say in the future of your country. Not to mention, in Idaho, you don’t have to vote at the top of the ticket to have your ballot counted. So, even if you are unsure about the presidential candidates, there is plenty to vote on. For example; in this election there is a ballot initiative called PROP 1 which would aim to change the voting process in Idaho, several school district tax levies for funding in public schools, U.S. Senate and representatives to represent Idaho in D.C. and, also local representatives to vote on, all of which have a direct impact on our communities. 

In Idaho, you can register to vote until the polls close on election day. In Sandpoint the polls close at 8pm. This year, you can vote if your birthday is on or before November 5th. Visit I Will Vote and find your polling place and register to vote all in a matter of minutes! You can also visit the site Vote Idaho, find Bonner County, and get information on requesting an absentee ballot. Even more exciting, you can early vote in person at the local election hall up until November 1st, which is within walking distance from the high school. 

There is so much to vote on in this election. Voting is the easiest way to get a say in the future of your country or even just your town.  Although it is hard to fathom how your vote matters in a country of 330 million people, a state of 2 million people, and a town of 10,000 people, it truly makes a difference. So please make a plan to head the polls before November 5th, and make your voice heard.