Midterms: More Than the 6th by Josephine Walk

To me, November 6th marked the culmination of months of involvement in local politics. To some of my peers, November 6th marked the first of a lifetime of opportunities to complete a ballot and boast a certain circular red sticker. To others, November 6th marked a cousin’s birthday or that dreaded chapter four math test or the day the car would not start because of the sudden cold weather.

Midterm elections: of great significance to some and little importance to others. Though the average Tech student may not have cared about possession of the house or senate much, America surely did. According to FiveThirtyEight’s early estimations, about 49% of eligible voters cast a ballot on the 6th (up from the usual 40%). Additionally, the poll analysis site credited Minnesota with the highest voter turnout in the nation at about 64%.

Despite your involvement on November 6th, I am here to tell you civic engagement matters. It matters for all of us, and it matters far beyond that single Tuesday. Too often, we get excited for a week in November then stop caring; and the reasoning is understandable. As non-eligible voters, it feels we do not have the voices to make a legitimate impact. As students in St. Cloud, it feels we are too irrelevant to truly change anything.

If there is one thing this election cycle has taught me, it is the power and perseverance of young people. We have voices, we are important, and we cause impact. Together we are powerful, and we can make change in our Minnesota.

Some friends and I strive to share the awesome experiences we have had over the past six months and get more St. Cloud area students involved in local politics. We intend to educate ourselves on issues and write to our representatives and make change in St. Paul. If you want to join us and expand your impact past Election day (and you have a bit of free time on Thursday nights), stay tuned. Posters should be going up before the new legislative session begins in early January.

Remember, caring about the future of our state and nation is a jolly old time on November 6th, but there are 364 other important days in the year.