Chilling winds, falling leaves, and an impending, uncomfortable, Thanksgiving dinner conversation. It’s election season. But while news anchors ask question after question about which way a Pennsylvania voter may swing for the presidency, we on the other side of the country must ask another question: Does it matter to us?
The electoral college is a funny thing. By nature, not all votes are weighted equal, about half of them won’t contribute at all if they aren’t a majority, and only some get national attention by traditional media. Washington’s electoral outcome is a laughable question at best, with all metrics pointing to a massive state victory for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump. So, is there any reason to expend energy on the election at all?
United States Government and Politics teacher, Ms. Olson, thinks so. Ms. Olson has been studying American politics for 15 years, and has voted on every ballot that’s come her way. She thinks that “given that the majority of people recognize that Washington state is a blue state, it tends to vote Democrat by wide margins, that could lead to political apathy and a decline in voting in Washington State… When you have such a wide margin, you know that that contributes to voter apathy among the groups.”
Voter registration numbers reflect this. According to the Washington Secretary of State, Washington voter registration for presidential elections has been steadily declining since 2008. Even with a sharp increase in voter registration for the 2020 general election, the state is still yet to reach its’ 2008 margin. This contrasts the rest of the country, which has steadily been rising in voter registration and blew 2008 voter registration out of the water with the 2020 election.
While it may be easy to feel the same apathy towards the election that many Washingtonians may, Ms. Olson refuses to feel so pessimistic about our vote’s importance. “While voting can be frustrating at times, it’s an incredible opportunity for citizens.” she sings, “Participating in that vote is still important, because it’s how I share my viewpoint with government, with political parties and with the organizations that govern our country.”
The choice to vote is ultimately a personal one among citizens, dependent on scheduling, investment in the issues, and familiarity with politics. If you as a student choose to vote this coming November 5th, make sure that you are registered via VoteWA.gov and are staying informed.
Presidential Profiles
Kamala Harris is the Democratic Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Her campaign revolves around universal background checks on guns, an initiative to fund housing constructions, and a border security bill with the intent to prevent opioid and fentanyl trafficking across the southern border. Her second attempt at a presidential bid features Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, as a running mate.
Donald Trump is the Republican Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election. His campaign revolves around drastic increases to border surveillance, including the deportations of an alleged twenty-million illegal immigrants, a large increase in oil drilling nationwide, and a flat twenty percent tax on all imported goods. His fourth attempt at a presidential bid features JD Vance, senator from Ohio, as a running mate.