For decades, young people have remained the least likely among citizens to register and turn out to vote. According to the Census Bureau, only around 59.8% of those aged 18-24 were registered to vote, trailing every other age group by at least ten percent. Many have asked why this is, with responses such as apathy, disinterest, or lack of opportunity. Others believe that their vote doesn’t matter.
However, Dean of Student Engagement Cheryl Steele, Virginia21 Representative Katya Mayer, College Democrats President Emily Robertson, College Republicans President Kayleigh Winebarger, among many others are working to change that with a project called LancersVote. LancersVote is an effort modeled after groups on other campuses (ex. Hokies Vote, VCU Votes, etc.) to get students registered to vote. As the country barrels toward the Midterm Elections, there has been a rush on many college campuses to get youth voter turnout as high as possible, with Longwood being no exception. LancersVote is already making a large effort to get out the vote at Longwood, especially in a nonpartisan fashion. “We ought to be coordinating efforts,” Steele puts it. “This is really about students exercising their right to vote.”
Both the College Republicans and College Democrats have gone all in on the project, combining their efforts to boost registration. Mayer, while discussing VA21 and LancersVote, said, “The big thing is that we’re nonpartisan, so my goal and the community’s goal is just trying to get campus informed.”
While many Democrats and Republicans disagree on nearly every issue that faces us today, Robertson and Winebarger agreed on one main thing: youth voting matters. As put by Winebarger, “everyone has a voice and in order to make a change you have to use your voice.”
Similarly, Robertson said, “It’s really important for young people to vote because they typically don’t. They have the power to change the trajectory of an election.”
Steele, Mayer, Robertson, and Winebarger all remained optimistic about political participation, specifically regarding issues that will bring young people out to the polls. Topics such as reproductive and the right to an abortion were common themes, specifically as the nation reacts to this year’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. “These freshmen are really fired up, and it’s really great to see.” Mayer says. With that said, she clarified that “we’re not afraid to protest, but we just can’t show up to the polls, and we have to change that.”
Through social media advocacy, tabling on Brock Commons, and registration and advocacy competitions. LancersVote hopes to continue to push for student registration and turnout up to election day with efforts such as Motivote, a registration and advocacy competition between colleges in Virginia. Longwood has placed first twice in this civic engagement competition over larger schools such as Virginia Tech.
As LancersVote kicks off for the year, Steele stressed Longwood’s commitment to “creating citizens for the greater good.” She says, “if we can get more students to vote, and even think about it, that to me will be worth the effort. I’m an eternal optimist.” She, along with student advocates and leadership, began the official charge for student registration on September 20th and will continue that until the polls close on November 8th.
More information about Lancers Vote can be found at @lancers_vote on Instagram, and information about registering to vote can be found at https://iwillvote.com/.
