There is an election this year. Were you aware? Silly question, right? But did you know there are actually two elections – yes, two – that you, as a registered voter, can participate in? And one is coming up very soon. We are breaking down what you need to know about the Indiana primary – set for May 3.
First, the cold hard truth. Indiana voter turnout hasn’t been the greatest in the past decade. As in, Indiana has consistently been one of the lowest states for voter turnout—cue sad trombone. (Editors note: If you want to get into the weeds on Indiana election results and stats, head here.)
The good news is that we can be agents of change. There are 83 million Millennials in America—that’s a huge number, outweighing even the Baby Boomers. In some states, the young voter turnout actually exceeds the margin of victory. That’s seriously a big deal.
Now, back to that Primary. First the facts: Primaries are state-level elections where voters select candidates affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties – at least that’s the way we run things in Indiana. These candidates, and third party candidates such as Libertarians who are nominated at their own party convention, then go on to run against one another in the general election. And by the way, you don’t have to be registered with the Democratic or Republican Party to vote in the Indiana Primary. It’s cool if you’re a Libertarian, Green Party, Independent or something else! Just know your ballot choices are limited to the D’s and R’s during the primary.
Historically, Indiana’s primary, which is always late in the game, has not had much effect on the outcome of the election. In 2008, it did for President Obama. And we could play a big role this year for both parties.
Have we convinced you? Here are some next steps we hope you’ll consider:
Step one- Register to vote. It’s super easy, we promise. Indiana law requires that all voters be registered 29 days prior to any election. That gives us an April 4 deadline for the Indiana Primary. Not sure if you’re registered or need to update your address? You can check that through the link above too.
Step two- Get informed. The most essential part of any election is educating yourself on the candidates (check out a sample ballot here) and important topics. Some of you may already have a Presidential candidate in mind, but for those of you who are on the fence, there is a great website to help you determine who you align with most on key issues.
Step three- Engage. Encourage your peers and neighbors to stay up to date on both local and national politics. Attend a city county council meeting. Contact your elected officials if an issue is important to you. The progress of our city relies on our voices—your voice.
As the Indiana Primary approaches, we want to make sure you’ve got the facts you need, that you’re registered to vote, and that you’re comfortable making an informed decision. IndyHub believes that young voters have the power to make our state and our country, better. A simple first step is to cast your ballot.
Your voice, your opinion, matters.
