Editorial: A Pitt student’s guide to voting

We’re pretty convinced that voting in today’s election will probably be less painful than… We’re pretty convinced that voting in today’s election will probably be less painful than scheduling next semester’s classes.

So you should probably do it. Here’s why:

Statistics show you don’t care.

Despite the record-high young-voter turnout in the 2008 election, young voters are once again disengaged.

“Obama won two years ago with 66 percent of the 18- to 29-year-old vote, a historic proportion. Americans under 30 also worked on campaigns at a greater rate than the general population did for the first time since 1952, or possibly even earlier,” reports The New York Times.

But the usual midterm effect, in addition to “an unexpected distance that has arisen between Mr. Obama and many young constituents,” is causing many young voters to lose interest, according to The New York Times.

But you should care.

According to some theories, not voting in an election is the same thing as voting in an election, because not casting a ballot is still a ballot cast — for the status quo.

In addition, local elections matter more. According to an article in last week’s edition of the Pittsburgh City Paper, “These are issues you can do something about, and candidates you can actually vote for.” These issues include the Marcellus Shale gas drilling, social issues like abortion and gay marriage, health-care reform, environmental principles, taxes and economic issues.

Another reason this election matters so much is redistricting, the process by which state governments can redraw the boundaries of legislative districts. For Congressional districts, having a state legislature and governor of the same party will allow for “party-friendly” redistricting. This means that the result of today’s election will impact politics  for many years to come.

And this is how to show you care:

Although there are time and travel costs associated with voting, Pitt makes it relatively easy for you to vote with plenty of polling places nearby. And because the midterm elections are less popular than presidential elections, you most likely won’t face long lines.

Even if you don’t have your voter registration card, you will still be able to vote at the location you voted at last time.

If you are voting for the first time in this district, you will be able to use your Panther Card as a form of photo identification, according to the Allegheny County Board of Elections website.