As November approaches, students at Mississippi State University are encouraging their counterparts to register to vote in the upcoming elections.
This past week, the Drill Field has been busy with students motivating others to get out and vote. Whether it be student body elections or elections within our local and national government, students are passionate about increasing voter turnout.
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration is pushing its students to participate in voter registration drives this week. Jacob Walters, a senior political science major, shared why he was eager to get involved.
“I am participating in the voter registration drive for class credit, but I am passionate about the cause,” Walters said.
Walters attended the voter registration drive Tuesday on the Drill Field. He shared his motivation to participate.
“More people voting is a sign that our Democratic system is healthy. A lot of students are disaffected with politics today, and I think voting is one of the only ways we can make our voices heard,” Walters said.
Walters said he values the importance of the upcoming election and its influence on the control of Congress. No matter their political beliefs, Walters explained why students should go out and vote.
“If you’re happy with the way things are going, then you should vote,” Walters said. “In addition, if you’re upset, then you should vote in an attempt to change what you are upset about.”
Mary-Catherine McCreary, a graduate student who participated in the drive, described her passion for getting students to the polls.
“My passion for voting and elections began in 2018 while taking a state and elections policy course,” McCreary said. “I discovered that counties and states with a high minority population had higher wait times at their respective polling stations.”
McCreary said learning about these issues inspired her to volunteer with local organizations to promote equal access to voting in her community. 
“Recent research has shown that a lot of young voters have not been participating in recent elections, meaning their voices are not heard. In order for a democracy to be representative of them, young voters have to get out to vote,” McCreary said.
McCreary said since 2014, the voter turnout of students at Mississippi State has increased. She attributes this increase to the efforts made by students and faculty, as well as voter registration drives.
As the political climate changes, many members of younger generations are becoming unhappy with election results. However, according to Maya King and Jonathan Weisman from The New York Times, just 32% of young voters were “almost certain” they would vote in the November 2022 midterm elections.
Walker Harris, a junior political science major, explained his point of view on the issue.
“The less voter turnout, the more opportunity for less popular opinions to win. I can’t tell you how many times I hear people who don’t vote complain about election results when their very lack of participation is what allows those results to transpire,” Harris said.
According to Jordan Mirsa for the United States Census Bureau, voter turnout for the 2018 midterms was 35.6% among 18-24 year olds.
Harris said he hopes more students are encouraged to vote in the future.
“The more people that go out to vote, the clearer the picture becomes of what the people truly think and need in terms of infrastructure and policy among other things,” Harris said. “It’s the greatest power you are granted as an American citizen, so you better use it.”