For someone who writes about the importance of making educated decisions, the author of the recent article "Voter registration encourages reckless voting" was not the least bit educated about SAVE. He accuses SAVE on numerous levels but fails to provide evidence for any of his ignorant claims.
Had the author of this editorial taken the time to adequately research the
Vanderbilt chapter of SAVE, he would have been thoroughly surprised to find that his assumptions about this organization are unfounded and untrue. Although he attempts to label SAVE as a politically biased organization, I find that our attempts to remain non-partisan have been successful. This is because of our four officers, two are Democrats and two are Republicans. Even if this author abides by the belief that it is impossible to speak on political matters without imposing a bias, SAVE ensures that no one bias is prominent as our officers are evenly split in our political orientations.
Aside from his inaccurate claims about the organization, I found his larger claims about young voters appalling. For instance, his assertion that young voters are, "less interested and less educated about issues like terrorism, health care and taxes" is easily rebutted by the fact that 52 percent of the youth voters said the economy was their primary reason for voting, and another 24 percent said tax reform drove them to the polls. In fact, 22 percent of American youth reported that they unintentionally missed the registration deadline.
The editorial claims we "should be content with the number of young voters, no matter how high or how low, because that number will undoubtedly reflect which young voters are engaged in the political process enough to use the privilege responsibly." If this is true, than should we be "content" with the failing economy and skyrocketing gas prices? Should we accept that the recession we are in is merely a "reflection" of America's capabilities? In the unlikely story that is America, when have we ever settled for being merely content?
Voting is not a "privilege," it is a right. Every U.S. citizen who is 18 has the right to cast their vote come Nov. 4; it's part of living in a democracy. To the author of the original editorial, you were right in your claim that voters should be educated. But seeing as our country was founded upon the principles of democracy, every citizen not only deserves a vote, but also should be using that right. Holding both of these facts to be true, I cannot see how you would disagree with the SAVE's ultimate goal of informing and motivating young voters. Food for thought: If your peers, students of Vanderbilt University, are not "qualified" to vote, who is?
Cameron Pasterick
President of the Student Associate for Voter Empowerment (SAVE)
Junior, Peabody College
