Riley Dolan, a senior at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, is a guest contributor for #VoteTogether
What exactly were we able to achieve at the local level? Some of our achievements include: putting on the most successful Rock the Vote event in the history of our campus, hosting a debate for the two Washington U.S. Senate candidates, organizing two ballot parties with high rates of turnout—and we even won our Governor’s inaugural College Voter Registration Challenge by registering the highest percentage of students to vote in the state of Washington. That’s a lot of raindrops.
Surrounding this success is the investment that has gone in to these projects. Money talks, especially when trying to mobilize an entire demographic. Although I am extremely passionate about this work, I need to afford my education. That is why I am grateful that I get paid through my student government to do this work as the Civic Engagement Director.
Historically, youth voter turnout has been abysmally low. It’s important to acknowledge there are many reasons why a person may not vote. While at times it can be disinterest or lack of information, all too often we see systemic powers that routinely omit certain voices from the electoral process, especially young people and those holding marginalized identities.
civicnation PLU rhymes with poo and thats the tea