Daniella Tebib
Staff writer
[email protected]

Are you registered to vote? The deadline to register in Kentucky is Oct. 9 and the upcoming elections are on Nov. 6.

Murray is located in Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, and during the upcoming general election many important positions will be on the ballot. These include the Kentucky Representative in Congress, State

Representative, Commonwealth’s Attorney as well as many more local positions. The Kentucky Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment will also be on the ballot.

According to “Voter Turnout by Age and Sex” from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, during the 2016 general election there were 1,955,195 registered voters but only 154,059 were between the ages of 17 and 24.

Drew Seib, assistant professor of the department of political science and sociology, said voter apathy is leading to a lack of representation for young people and their interests.

“College students have a different set of interests compared to voters in older age groups, yet this age group by far has the lowest turnout for elections,” Seib said. “College students at this point in their lives are likely worried about student loans, Pell Grants and getting a job when they get out of school. But, because the age group votes at such a low rate, politicians are more likely to ignore their concerns and focus on the concerns of people who do vote.”

Whether students agree or disagree with what is happening politically, Choong-Nam Kang, chair and associate professor of the department of political science and sociology, said there is only one way for their voice to be heard.

“It’s not just for college students, but for all citizens, because it is one of the only ways for people to participate in the decision-making process and to make politicians listen to your voice,” Kang said. “You probably prefer democracy to autocracy. Then, think about what makes democracy different from autocracy. Especially if you don’t like or want something, go out and vote. If you don’t, nothing will be changed.”

To encourage Murray State students to register to vote, Seib requires his students to host a voter registration drive of their own.

“I actually have several motives behind the assignment,” Seib said. “The first is teaching students to be better citizens, to be an active citizen and encourage others to be active in civic life. The second is to teach students more about the registration process…The third motive is all about the learning experience.”

Madison Hillberry, freshman from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, said she believes voting isn’t just a right, but also a privilege.

“By choosing not to use your vote, you are taking your privilege for granted,” Hillberry said. “You are choosing to not take part in our democracy, which is something citizens of many other countries would kill for.”

Now that students live in different areas, they are being affected by different local policies. Some college students don’t realize they can change their registration information to the university they are attending. This makes it much more accessible for students to be able to vote. By registering to vote in their university’s city, students can have a say in these matters.

“They may have registered in a high school voter registration drive with their parent’s address, but now are away at college,” Seib said. “It can be hard to go back home and vote, and learning how to request an absentee ballot takes time away from our already busy lives. What college students may not realize is that they can choose to change their voter registration to wherever it is they are attending college.”

Students can register or update their current registration record to their university address at

govoteky.com.

There are also many voter registration drives being held on Murray State’s campus for students that would rather change their information or register in person.

The College Democrats are hosting a voter registration drive on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Curris Center.

“Younger voters are typically the most affected by policies enacted by governments, yet turn out to vote the least,” Jordan Kinnett, president of the College Democrats, said. “It’s important for us to do what we can to encourage people to engage in the voting process now in hopes that they will become lifelong participants.”

Murray State’s Student Government Association is also hosting a voter registration drive on Oct. 2 in the Curris Center.

“Get out and vote because your vote matters,” Andrew Kane, SGA government relations director, said. “The changes made now will be ones that will affect us as adults as soon as we get out of college and are in the workforce.”

The College Republicans are not hosting any voter registration drives, but Vice President Abby Rock wants to encourage all registered students to vote.

“College students are an underrepresented group when it comes to the political environment because not enough of us get out and vote in elections. Issues that we care about are going unnoticed because there is no strategic advantage for politicians to address these issues if we don’t show up to the polls,” Rock said. “Our main focus is motivating students that are registered to go vote on Nov. 6.”

If you want your voice to be heard, get registered, get informed and go vote.