As the 60th presidential election of the United States approaches, asking friends or family how they feel about it might get you a shrug or an eye roll; who could blame them? From the last-minute ticket toss-up to multiple assassination attempts, California State Bakersfield voters are exhausted if not yet wholly apathetic. Yet, fall cools the Central Valley, and so does the cool breeze of optimism.
Nearly “41 million Gen Z will be eligible to vote” in this upcoming election, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Yet, many report feeling disillusioned, and veteran voters share that sentiment. The big question many are asking nowadays is, “Does my vote still count?”
Newly eligible and seasoned voters are swept up in the national discourse surrounding intense political rhetoric that bombards us 24/7.
Political fatigue is alive and well, amplified by the 24-hour news cycle that we see on our screens. Isabella Torres, Business Administration major, admits to an overwhelming mix of political rhetoric and social media noise that keeps her away from politics for the most part. She often finds it all “too much to understand.”
Having on-demand news and information ready at our fingertips is a blessing and a curse for many Gen Z voters this close to Election Day. Despite the chaos, Torres advises us to “remember the power we have” and to “do our research” when navigating the current political climate.
When examining the root causes of political fatigue, Dr. José Villagrán, assistant professor of ethnic studies at CSUB, understands the exhaustive nature of politics and how the lack of enthusiasm stems from political dread. He understands that elections are more than just about the next president in the Oval Office.
Since casting his first ballot in 2004, Villagrán has since learned how to combat politically induced dread. He encourages both new and unsure voters to, “be comprehensive in your view about politics…this is so much deeper than the presidential candidate.”
Villagrán also suggests hosting debate parties with friends to become more politically active and informed about different ideas. Getting together in a comfortable space can make the political process less about the news and doom scrolling, and more about community involvement.
If you are still stuck in total political disengagement, I understand where you are coming from. United States general elections have frequently been boiled down to “the lesser of two evils.”
So, if you are still stuck in total political disengagement there is sympathy as many voters
understand where you are coming from.
Important dates to remember:
California sends ballots to actively registered voters Oct 7 – 26
Return ballot by mail (postmarked by) Nov 5
Return ballot in person by 8 PM on Nov 5
The campus ballot drop box is located on the Student Union Patio.
