It’s a presidential election year, and political discussions are seemingly unavoidable. Students across Central Michigan University’s campus said they feel like the country is polarized, and some said they stay out of politics altogether aaza of how complicated things are.

But some campus groups, like Central Votes, believe students shouldn’t shy away from politics, but instead learn about it and make a difference through voting. They believe that the youth vote matters now more than ever, and say it could even shift the tides of this year’s election.

Norma Bailey is the co-chair for the Central Votes Coalition and a member of the League of Women Voters at CMU. A retired faculty member, she said she found her passion in civic education after going on a Civil Rights tour in Alabama. She learned that the youth had a huge impact on the movement, and she said it changed her perspective.

“I thought if youth could make a difference down there, they can make a difference here too,” she said.

By the numbers

Since then, Bailey has led and witnessed a number of political events and changes on campus. When she started the Central Votes in 2014, she said CMU only had 16% voter participation. As of 2022, she said that number had tripled, reaching roughly 46%.

Additionally, during coalition’s 10 years of operation, voter registration rates have risen; rates started at around 59% in 2014 and reached 88% in 2022.

Bailey said she believes this happened because Central Votes advocated for voter registration and civic education even when there weren’t major elections.

“If you want kids to know voting matters, it’s gotta matter all the time,” she said. “I have 20 years left of my future, you have 80. Don’t you want to have a voice in that?”

“I have 20 years left of my future, you have 80. Don’t you want to have a voice in that?”

Norma Bailey, co-chair of Central Votes Coalition

The impact of the youth vote

Bailey said she believes the younger generation impacts elections “tremendously,” and said she believes they could easily sway any election if they all collectively voted.

Her claim is reflected in national data. According to an elections report from the state of Michigan, 40.8 million United States citizens who are ages 18 to 27 will be eligible to vote in this year’s election. The report says this would be one-sixth of voters nationwide.

The state also led the nation in youth voter turnout in 2022, at 37.6%.

Despite this, youth turnout across the state was rocky that year. The report shows that roughly 60% of younger eligible voters in Isabella County did not vote, and the state as a whole averaged at 59.2%.

Different types of voice

Bailey said lower turnout could be due to students growing up during a time where they may have been told their vote doesn’t count. She said it’s important for them to know their voice does matter, through protests, petitions and voting.

“Protests are great, but you have to vote, too,” she said. “Your voice makes a difference, but the best voice you have is the one in the ballot box.”

Bailey said she doesn’t just strive for students to vote, but to actively focus on what’s happening in politics. She said everything in life connects back to politics, and that the young generation should pay attention because they are impacted by the people that represent them.

The general election is on Nov. 5. Bailey said students who want to vote early can do so in Powers Hall from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3. In the meantime, various civic education events will be occurring across campus, such as Ten Tuesdays, events out on the lawn and events hosted by the College Democrats and College Republicans.