NORMAL, Ill. – The Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University is working to debunk myths and change the narrative surrounding youth voter turnout, according to Center for Civic Engagement graduate assistant Joshua Crockett.
Federal, state and McLean County candidates were on the ballot for the 2022 Illinois midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Crockett and ISU political science and legal studies student Oscar Serratos feel it is important for students to vote and to vote locally.
“When young people show up, share their stories and vote, people start to listen, policies start to change and people pay attention that the youth vote matters and their priorities,” said Crockett.
Crockett encourages students to get involved, make their voices heard and understand their roles as voters and citizens of their community.
“Young people often don’t think of their actions as inherently political,” said Crockett. “Posting on social media, talking with friends and family about politics and volunteering at a local organization … are all things we encourage and promote here at the Center.”
Mayor Chris Koos was reelected by 11 votes over his opponent Marc Tiritilli in the 2017 consolidated election, according to the McLean County Government. Crockett believes the result would be different if more students voted.
“The district isn’t all that big, so 20,000 ISU students could make a big dent in the outcome of the election,” said Crockett.
Serratos believes students living in college towns, such as Bloomington-Normal, have a political voice. “We contribute to the local economy and are big enough in numbers to force change and choose representatives that can push for our interests,” said Serratos. “The only hurdle to that is whether or not enough of us turnout to vote.”
Between 66% and 68% of citizens 18 years or older voted in the 2020 presidential election, resulting in the 21st century’s highest voter turnout, according to the United States Census Bureau.
In relation, Crockett hoped 45% to 50% of eligible voters would participate in the midterm election this year and believes it is a shame that local elections receive less attention than federal and presidential elections. “All of the races are equally important because all levels of government matter in such important ways, but different ways,” said Crockett.
The candidates elected to represent the Bloomington-Normal community affect local decisions, such as the quality of our roads and what happens with our school districts, according to Crockett.
“We’re seeing America be more polarized than ever and more divided than ever and a great way to really get things done, no matter how you view issues, … often now is on local government and state government,” said Crockett.
Serratos’ major concern is living in a community where transportation is accessible. “Specifically, recently, there has been a string of accidents between cars and pedestrians and cyclists,” said Serratos. “I want to know what local leaders have in mind to protect those road users.
“Furthermore, public transit is very important to me,” said Serratos. “I know a lot of people who would like to use the local buses but complain of a lack of reliability and long times between service as well as a lack of connectivity. I want to know what plans leaders have to improve these services.”
Serratos believes local elections are critical as many administrative tasks are performed at that level. “Springfield or Washington may allocate the money, but it’s the officials in town halls and administrators that decide how that money is used,” said Serratos.
Crockett believes every vote makes a difference no matter who people vote for. “McLean County is in a unique situation where we’ve always had Republican representatives,” said Crockett. “The Republican party is fired up about keeping McLean County red, but on the flip side, Democrats finally feel like they might have a chance at winning McLean County. There are strong emotions on both sides.”
The Center for Civic Engagement felt the excitement among ISU students registering to vote and was confident they would have a high voter turnout on campus. “We are working hard to debunk the myth that young people don’t vote or that they don’t care about voting or they don’t care about what happens in our communities,” said Crockett.
The Center for Civic Engagement offers community service and civic education opportunities for students.
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