The 2024 United States presidential election is in just over a year, and talk of polls, debates, candidates and political issues are beginning to dominate the national news. For a majority of Covenant students, next November will be their first time voting in an election, as well as selecting their choice for President and Vice President.
However, the path to voting is not so clear cut.
Many students are not registered to vote in their home states. Various responses by students indicate that this is due to three main reasons: not knowing how to register, forgetting to register, or indifference.
A lot of students are unaware of the details of voter registration. When asked about voting, some of the most common questions were: “How do you check to see if you are registered?” and “What does registration look like?”
“I’d like to be registered,” said Sam Harrelson ‘26, “but how do you even do it?”
Others have simply forgotten to register because they have not voted before and have never gone through the process. Amid all the busyness of college, voting and politics are not the first things on students’ minds.
With the high number of students who either do not know how to register or have forgotten, the question is: What are the contributing factors to this lack of knowledge and/or forgetfulness?
The answer to this question seems to be a general theme of indifference. While most students believe that voting is an important right in our country and an integral part of what it means to be a democracy, a majority of students have little political interests.
Aside from requirements for government or international studies classes, many do not keep up with the news. If students do track the news, it is mostly through limited online resources.
“I follow a few social media accounts on Instagram about the news, but I don’t actively keep up with it, seek it out, or watch the news,” said Taylor Rodgers ‘25.
Like Rodgers, most students sporadically see news headlines through phone apps, social media or podcasts. However, students’ overall engagement with that material and sense of civic responsibility is low.
The American Flag outisde the lirbary waves at half mass. Monday October 2nd, 2023.
Many credited their lack of knowledge about voting to the fact that they are just not interested in politics. “I just don’t care that much” was a common answer.
When asked about their knowledge of the 2024 election, a lot of students did not know the candidates running for president, besides Biden and Trump. In addition, the election is something that many are trying to ignore due to their general dissatisfaction about the state of politics in America. Most students do not know who they want to vote for and are concerned about choosing a candidate they actually like.
However, of the students who are registered to vote, they credited this to high school teachers or school programs that showed them the process. Katie Jackson ‘26 said that her high school government teacher helped their class register.
While many students are not registered to vote, they are hoping to vote in the upcoming election. And while they confess they are not informed about politics, students also said that they think they should probably care more. Between now and the election, they are planning on figuring out the steps for how to register.
Requirements vary by state, but in Georgia, you must be a U.S. citizen, a Georgia resident, and at least 17 ½ years old to register to vote. You can register by going to Georgia.gov, and the website provides the information and materials to send in a mail or online application. Registration must occur a minimum of twenty-nine days before election day.
Georgia resident students can register following these directions, and out of state students should look up their own states’ requirements.