Elections, Government
Young voters don’t turn out for local elections
Posted on Nov 02, 2009 by James Q. Lynch.
Cedar Rapids mayoral candidate Ron Corbett listens to the next question during a debate at Dublin City Pub in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Candidates Brian Fagan and PT Larson also participated in the event which was hosted by Hoopla. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
In the run-up to the 2007 Iowa City municipal election, voter registration among the community’s student-age population increased by 4,500.
This year, it’s declining, reports the Johnson County Auditor’s Office.
In the primary, only 11 people voted at the University of Iowa Main Library and 25 at Quadrangle residence hall.
“I certainly was expecting more interest among students,” said Jeff Shipley, one of two UI students seeking seats on the Iowa City Council. “Perhaps it’s my failure as an uninspiring, unorganized candidate, but I’m surprised they didn’t care a little more.”
Maybe it’s not him at all. Young voters have a history of non-participation in local elections.
In the 2007 Cedar Rapids municipal election, for example, 1.7 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 3.66 percent of 25-to-30-year-olds voted.
On registration drives, Shipley, a senior majoring in political science and economics, has experienced “some really obnoxious responses. Some people laugh at you; they don’t care and act as if they were offended that you ask them to register.”
Dan Tallon’s experience has been better. The other student candidate looks at any young voter he can get to the voting booth as gravy, because it’s one more than would have voted otherwise.
“Voting isn’t a young person’s sport,” the junior political science major from Davenport said.
The surge in voter registration among UI students two years ago stemmed from a proposal to keep anyone younger than 21 out of bars. Tallon wishes that issue was on the ballot again.
Without it, he doesn’t expect the same level of turnout and said no one should expect 18-to-30-year-olds to show up like they did for the 2008 presidential election. Then, 71 percent of that age group in Johnson County cast votes. In Linn County, 63 percent of the registered voters in that age group voted.
To be fair, participation in municipal elections isn’t all that great among older voters, either.
In the 2007 Cedar Rapids election, participation among 35-to-49-year-olds was less than 10 percent. The best turnout was among those 65 and older, and that barely topped 30 percent.
For Dan Alpers, 33, of Cedar Rapids, two events triggered an interest in local government — the June 2008 flood and the birth of his daughter.
“Ever since the flood, I’ve been more attuned to what is going on,” said Alpers, 33, who wasn’t flooded out but lost his home away from home, Central Corridor Gamers.
Alpers, a graphic designer, believes many 20-somethings are too busy starting their lives — getting married, buying homes, having children — to vote.
“For me, my daughter put things in perspective,” he said. “I started to think, ‘I truly do need to care.’ You gain a selfless attitude and in a way you become selfish because you want things to be right for your family.”
Elizabeth Johnson, 29, of Cedar Rapids, has heard the too-busy arguments but said those concerns are more reasons to vote.
“The municipal elections are particularly significant for young people because we are just beginning our careers, just starting our families, just establishing ourselves for the first time, and we have the opportunity to shape our home through the power of voting,” said Johnson, a UI law school student.
“I would argue that there always seems to be time to complain that the current leadership isn’t doing well,” Johnson said. “Why not consciously invest some of that ‘complaining’ time in learning about the candidates and casting an informed vote for Cedar Rapids?”
Apathy is not age-specific, said Stacy Haynes-Moore, 38, of Cedar Rapids. Regardless of age, voters are busy.
“We talk about jobs, education and the city’s restaurant, music and theater scenes,” the Jefferson High teacher said, “but slipping even a few minutes into their day to hear the latest in city politics, or canvass for a candidate, or even stick a sign in the lawn just doesn’t make it as a top priority.”
Some of her friends will talk local politics, “but most just nod and smile when they hear me say that I attended a city forum or event,” she said. “They might compliment me for being civic-minded, but I think that they see this as a little unusual.”
23streets
02. Nov, 2009
Apathy is what Corporation Corbett is hoping for.Corporation Corbett is for Corporate give a ways, to maximise there profits, and we the property tax Citiizens will pay for the gift to his friends. The attitude of Corporations incentives before human needs is what you can expect. Corbett is a believer in the trickle down economics that pay the wealth first and usually at the expence of higher property taxs. Vote for small business Vote for Fagan
John_Chase
02. Nov, 2009
LOL, can you explain the endorsements of the Hawkeye Labor Council or the other unions like the Pipefitters etc.?
Cedar Rapids needs businesses to locate here, stay here and provide jobs for our people. What part of economic development upsets you so much?
Small business are the backbone of the private sector. They watch their bottom line so they can meet payroll and the amount of taxes the Halloran-Fagan-Prosser administration has put on them is devastating. Far more devasting to small businesses than even the flood itself. They are not supporting Fagan for good reason. Just ask the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce whose membership is 99% small business or the Corridor Business Journal why they endorsed Corbett. Even the Gazette knows that Fagan's tax and spend plan coupled with his bicycle lane plan are not the recipe for economic grow in the community. Man I'm tired of being right.
23streets
03. Nov, 2009
Must be the campaine groupy for Corporation Corbett. Get real, the BS you are saying. First off The Chamber does not speak for all or even many of the dues paying Members. The main reason for a membership to the Chamber is for networking not for the Management to speak on behalf of small business. One Large Corporation says jump and the small business members are forgotten about. The Citizens are going to be better served when Fagan is voted into the Mayors office. The BS you spew that what is the interest of the Chamber is the same as the best interest of the people who are employees is your arrogance
23streets
02. Nov, 2009
Apathy is what Corbett is counting on. Corporation Corbett will put the screws to any segment that is not pushing for Corporate tax give a ways, business view over human needs. Do not believe for a minute Corporation Corbett is going to lower property tax’s. Corporate incentives that the public will pay for is a guaranty. I did not see Corbett in the streets after the flood. Did he meet with Republican strategists leading up to the flood or was he sand bagging and helping the people of this city. Corbett is owned by CRST with intentions to become gov.
Corporation Corbett is a believer in the trickle down economics, good luck flood Victims.
jamesman
03. Nov, 2009
take your medicine
23streets
03. Nov, 2009
James, James, James that is a good one! ha ha
chaimfinestein
02. Nov, 2009
There are young people in Cedar Rapids!?!
...
02. Nov, 2009
*sniff sniff*
Is that desperation I smell? 3 consecutive posts- good grief.
Shouldn't you be out stealing Corbett signs or something? Or hasn't your candidate's consultant come back to you with instructions yet? The clock is ticking you know!
Thanks to an absentee ballot, my Corbett vote has been cast.
But thanks for playing! You were comic relief.
guardian44
02. Nov, 2009
Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you………..if your YOUNG at heart. I think the
young at heart will vote and then we will see CR come to life as the beat goes on with
a new mayor and new faces on the council.
jamesman
06. Nov, 2009
there should be all new faces
John_Chase
02. Nov, 2009
is that you Rep. Kucinich?
23streets
03. Nov, 2009
Hey, Dick Cheney its time to move on. Go ahead move on! Bye Bye
...
02. Nov, 2009
All I want is to have nearly 4000 inane posts to my name. Is that asking too much? WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH