Each election, some eligible voters sit out because they believe Utah is — and always will be — a red state. They mistakenly think the results are a foregone conclusion.
What a disservice that label is to voters.
Republicans and Democrats alike may skip voting, thinking their votes either aren’t needed or that they don’t matter. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In the 2020 presidential election, the margin in Utah between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was 304,858 votes, a small number in an electorate of nearly 2.2 million, according to the U.S. Elections Project. In fact, if the more than 700,000 eligible voters who didn’t vote in the presidential election had participated, they had the potential to flip the state. We really don’t know what the outcome would have been.
[Are you a voter between the ages of 18 and 30? Join us for an upcoming conversation about the issues that matter most to you.]
The truth is that all states are purple, including Utah. All states have Republican and Democratic voters.
Young adults, take note: People ages 18 to 29 are the least likely to vote, according to the U.S. Elections Project, but you have had personal experiences that differ vastly from older generations. You have lived through gun violence in schools, a ban on abortion access, ballooning student loans, a lack of affordable housing, the ill effects of social media and the real effects of global warming. You are more likely to be immigrants, self-identify as being part of a minority or to have grown up alongside minorities, immigrants and DACA recipients.
Your political opinions are shaped by your unique experiences. Being engaged in the election process enables you to be heard, to choose leaders who prioritize your issues and who have the solutions you favor so that the government works for you.
In 2020, Utahns ages 18 to 29 who did vote were nearly evenly divided between Trump and Biden, which makes young Utahns far less conservative than older voters.
Some young adult would-be voters may be disappointed in elected leaders. What these young adults must realize is that our government works through compromises and that legislation and executive orders can be challenged in court. Our system is designed to allow many voices to weigh in and take action, and that means these changes take time.
Many people shy away from political vitriol and consider themselves apolitical. That’s not a real choice. Someone is going to get elected whether we cast a ballot or not. What will we prioritize and what new laws and expenditures will we favor? We are still going to live under the government that is elected, whether we participate or not. Non-voters cede their opportunity to shape our country and leave it to people who may not have similar views.
Beyond the presidential race this year, young adults can vote for a new U.S. senator and, in turn, influence which party holds the U.S. Senate majority. The majority party decides the agenda for every Senate committee and which bills to bring up for a vote in the Senate and also leads the confirmation process for appointed positions such as Supreme Court Justices. Voters can also weigh in on races for U.S. Congress, governor and state Legislature seats.
There are thousands of young adults aging into eligibility for the first time. If they participate in large numbers — and if more voters come off the sidelines — any outcome is possible in Utah.
To all eligible voters: This country is in your hands and your voices matter. Register, vote and help shape your city, state and country.
All active registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail. Register online, or check that your registration is active and up to date with your proper mailing address at vote.utah.gov.
(Amy Eskind) Amy Eskind is a journalist living in Park City.
Amy Eskind is the author of “Vote! A Guide for Young Adults.” Eskind is a journalist living in Park City. Her work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Cap Times (Madison, Wisconsin), South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Houston Chronicle, The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee), NPR and People magazine.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.
