This November, you have an opportunity to shape the political future not only of our own state, but also of the entire nation. With the Senate so closely divided, the contest between Gordon Smith and myself is one of a handful that can determine which party controls that chamber’s gavel. It is up to Oregonians — and especially young people — to help decide what course of action our nation should pursue.
The stakes are unmistakably high: Environmental policy, funding for higher education, and preserving a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions all hang in the balance.
The good news is this: In Oregon, students matter.
I think I see a few people smirking at the back of your classroom. They’re skeptical of my last claim.
As Oregon’s secretary of state, I’ve visited more than 100 schools and can understand your frustration. You feel that politicians aren’t paying attention to your priorities. You know that the federal government doesn’t spend enough on grants for college tuition (which have been in steady decline for two decades) because you’ve signed for the loans. You know that, nationwide, 18-34-year-olds often cast one out of every 10 ballots counted — even though you make up nearly one-third of the voting-age population.
Does it have to be this way? Are you doomed to a vicious cycle of underparticipating and being underserved in return? Of course not.
You need only look at the last presidential election in order to discover your influence. In 2000, Al Gore carried Oregon by a mere 6,767 votes. That year, the Oregon Youth Vote coalition single-handedly registered 27,000 young Oregonians to vote — approximately four times the number of votes that decided the outcome. Now, take those 27,000 votes out of the picture. Might the outcome have been different?
Let’s be clear: Oregon students deserve a senator who will be accountable to them. I support increasing Pell Grants by $1,000 over the next three years, so that more college students have the opportunity to complete their degrees and develop the skills to improve their marketability in this tough economy. I also support increasing the number of Pell Grants available, so that more low-income students have the opportunity to pursue a degree.
The bottom line is that we all benefit when we make quality college education affordable and accessible to students. Society shares the economic benefit of a highly educated workforce, enjoys the innovations made possible by new scientific research, and celebrates the cultural advances of artists and scholars. Participating in elections is your best opportunity to remind your elders of these truths.
So, if you’re not registered to vote, get registered! It’s easy — you can find a form online at www.oregonvotes.org. When your ballot arrives in the mail this October, mark it and mail it in.
With your vote, you’ll be standing up to counter the opinion that young people don’t care about politics — or, even worse, that you haven’t the means or opportunity to make a difference.
Here’s to proving them wrong.