​For the young, presidential primaries may matter more

As Duke students vote today and tomorrow for the next leaders of DSG, voters across the nation are participating in this year’s Super Tuesday primary races. In total, 25 percent of republican primary delegates and 21 percent of democratic primary delegates will be allocated during these contests. Yet, even with the large number of delegates to be decided today, if results continue to split vote and delegate counts as they have in most past races, presidential nominations will continue to be contested following Super Tuesday results.

This means that there still exists an opportunity for young voters to have a significant impact on the political landscape of the next four years by showing up in their state primaries and the general election. The 2016 contest represents the first year that millennial voters, those under 35, are represented among the electorate to the same extent as baby boomers, representing 31 percent of eligible voters. However during the first month of primaries, millennials have been underrepresented at the polls, even underperforming compared to their 2008 voting rates, leading to near misses by millennial-preferred candidates.

A recent poll of millennial voters shows that only 42 percent plan to vote in Democratic primaries and 33 percent in Republican primaries. Overall, 60 percent plan to vote in the general election compared to actual voting percentages in past general elections. If millennials forfeit their right to have a say in primary contests, they potentially disenfranchise themselves ahead of the general election when the candidate they come around to supporting may not be on the ballot. With strong preferences for primary candidates, now is the time for millennials to ensure they get a candidate they can feel passionate enough about to show up for in the November elections.

On the Republican side the race for the youth vote is divided along lines similar to that of the general republican electorate. For Republicans who feel passionately about more moderate, less well performing candidates, like John Kasich, the primaries may provide the only opportunity to counter the popular tide and keep their candidate in the race long enough to have a chance of landing on top during a possible brokered Republican convention. On the Democratic side of the aisle, more than 80 percent of millennial voters support Sanders showing that millennial votes could shift the democratic race in Sanders favor, if they are cast.

Overall, millennials express concern for issues particular to their age group but find politics unsavory at best. Climate change, the inequitable economy, student debt, foreign policy, health care and gun control are leading issues of concern, and millennials have demonstrated consensus on some issues considered partisan flashpoints by previous generations. Though confusing to pundits, a recent study suggests that millennial voters could heavily influence the outcome of primaries in at least ten states, including North Carolina, possibly reshaping the political spectrum in years to come.

Starting this week, Duke students can vote early for North Carolina through March 12 at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life. On-the-spot registration is available with appropriate in- or out-of-state identification, making it easy to make your voice heard even before the North Carolina primary on March 15th. To make sure their unique issues are addressed, students must overcome their disdain for politics and show up to vote or risk continuing the same trends they overwhelmingly disapprove of.