Democracy Day is September 15 in the United States. News organizations across the country launched it to report more and better information about the crisis facing democracy in the United States.
In a well-functioning democracy, the people get the opportunity to decide what their future will be. Nobody has more at stake in that future than young voters. Yet, those with the most on the line continue to fail to show up. As a result, old people like me (let’s just say over 65 years old) influence far greater than our numbers over the politics and policies that younger people will be living with for a lot longer.
In the most recent Washington State primary election voters over 65 years of age represent only 22% of those of voting age but cast 42% of the votes. Voters between 18 and 34 are 29% of the voting age population but cast less than 14% of the votes.
Compared to the number of eligible voters, those ages 65+ had nearly double the impact on the election outcome and the 18-34-year-olds’ impact was reduced by about half. In direct comparison between the two groups, the 65+ have over 3 times the voting power of the 18-34s.
This would not be a problem if younger people cared the same about the same issues as the voters who decide elections. But that is not the case. As a group, younger voters care much more about economic inequality, social justice, and the environment.
And the best chance to make them real in the world comes from those eligible to vote who are under 35.
For example, on the ballot this November are two initiatives that clearly impact the issues of income inequality and the environment. Initiative 2117 repeals the Climate Commitment Act that reduces carbon emissions and invests in renewable energy. Also, on the ballot is Initiative 2109 that would repeal the Capital Gains Tax that impacts only the very richest .2% of Washingtonians and uses the money for schools, childcare, and early learning. Without the voters who care the most about income inequality and the environment, these initiatives will undo these laws that will help build a better future.
Proof that participation really does matter
Many younger voters feel that their vote won’t make a difference. Let me tell you a story about the recent Public Lands Commissioner primary election. The Commissioner of Public Lands oversees 6 million acres of state forest and other lands. Due to Washington’s weird top two election law, we almost had no Democrat on the November ballot despite Democrats getting over 57% of the vote because the votes were split among 5 Democrat candidates. Out of 1,903,073 votes cast, after a recount, Democrat Dave Upthegrove won second place and the right to be on the ballot in November by just 49 votes.
Without those 49 votes the November election would be between two Republicans on the ballot with no opportunity to vote for the strongest environmental candidate with endorsements from groups like the Sierra Club. In our system Upthegrove couldn’t even be a write-in candidate. As I said, it is a weird system.
I heard about two volunteers who walked their own precincts together for Upthegrove. In the two precincts they knocked on every registered voter’s door and left personal notes promoting Upthegrove at unanswered doors. Analysis of those two precincts showed they voted by over 51% for Upthegrove while other precincts in the same general area of NW Olympia voted only 34% for Upthegrove. That percentage difference was equal to 107 more Upthegrove votes. Those workers and the voters who responded can argue with good justification that they made the 49 vote margin happen and as a result voters will have a real choice in November to choose between candidates who reflect a range of values of all Washingtonians.
Exercising the right to vote, especially for younger people who have more at stake in the future than any other voters, requires engaging in democracy. If you think elections and voting doesn't matter, think again. Your vote can be the difference between progress for the kind of future you hope for and the same old policies that brought us to where we are today.
Larry Dzieza is a former budget director and budget analyst for multiple state agencies. For several years he also served as an adjunct professor teaching budget and finance and “digital government” at The Evergreen State College Master of Public Administration graduate program. He teaches budgeting and strategic planning at the University of Washington Tacoma’s Certified Public Manager Program.
The opinions expressed above are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The JOLT's staff or board of directors. Got something to say about a topic of interest to Thurston County residents? Send it to us and we’ll most likely publish it. See the Contribute your news button at the top of every page.
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RedskinPatriot
Jungle primaries are ridiculous! If we want to have fair elections my suggestion would be to have each county nominate their own electoral college so that Pierce and King don't decide what is good for the rest of us.
Additionally, people with no skin in the game shouldn't be allowed to vote because they do not pay for their actions. Meaning, $5000 is collected from person A, but person A receives a $7500 "tax credit"... person A is not/NOT paying taxes. Therefore, person A should not get to vote for tax increases or subsidies or anything that affects the lives of person B. Which is why this idea of non-citizens voting in Federal elections is ridiculous!
Democracy... I hate democracy the way the Democrats want Democracy. 51% of everybody should not decide what the other 49% have to live with. Thank goodness we have an electoral college, or 9 to 10 major cities would decide what everyone else in this country has to live with. What is crazy about their idea of "Democracy" is... Once that cage door is shut, they will be inside the cage along with everyone else. Voting for free stuff is dangerous... The mouse never asked why the cheese was free.
Ryan Burton
5 days ago Report this
JW
I've always said that if you don't cast a vote, you shouldn't be able to complain. It's incredibly easy to vote. They mail it to your house and you mail it back for free. The amount of effort is miniscule. People are too glued to their dumb phones to see the world around them.
5 days ago Report this
Southsoundguy
They will vote to end democracy, and it will be a good thing.
4 days ago Report this
WillStuivenga
So, @RedskinPatriot, you seem to think it's OK if 47% or 48% of everybody should decide what the remaining 53 or 52% "has to live with."? That's equally if not more crazy. And who is suggesting that non-citizens should vote in Federal elections? No Democrats that I'm aware of are advocating that. But if your criteria on who should vote is based on who's paying taxes, then undocumented immigrants would have as much right to vote as anyone! They pay literally billions in taxes every year, lots of it to programs (like Social Security and Medicare) which they're legally barred from participating in. See https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/ for the numbers.
4 days ago Report this