Our democracy is saved yet again. President Donald Trump’s March executive order that attempted to create unnecessary restrictions for mail-in and absentee ballots was blocked by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in early September. President Trump’s unwise attempt to interfere with the midterm elections in November has failed. The continuing threat of this administration to the midterm elections should encourage young adults to participate more in the voting process. It is through voting that young adults can help guide the direction of this country towards a better path for all.
Based on the false claim that mail ballots are corrupt, President Trump’s executive order, entitled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification And Integrity In Federal Elections,” attempted to introduce new mail-in voting policies that would make it more difficult for voters to get mail-in ballots. First, the order directed that the Department of Homeland Security create an eligibility list from sources, including a database called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE. Using this information, the United States Postal Service (USPS) would distribute ballots with unique barcodes or other identifiers, meant to ensure that only those eligible voters received and returned mail-in ballots. States that did not submit to this last-minute change would not be able to use USPS to deliver ballots via mail. An anonymous whistleblower raised concerns that the new rules would be hastily implemented, error-ridden, and could unjustly disenfranchise otherwise eligible voters.
On Sept. 14, SCOTUS blocked President Trump’s executive order, since the president is not granted authority over elections. Only Congress and each state can change the laws for the voting process. Trump’s efforts to disrupt the election extended beyond his executive order. On Sept. 10, during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump made his fans pledge to “cheat like hell, like they do.” We know he is hostile to Democrats, or anyone who doesn’t subscribe to his political philosophy, but to suggest cheating in elections is not exemplary logic, and it shows poor ethical decision-making.
This is his common strategy: spreading combative rhetoric without clear evidence to back it up. He tries to play a dirty political game, but we don’t have to participate. Instead, we can use our votes to elect government officials who listen to the concerns of young voters.
The Constitution is clear in giving most of the power to run elections to the states and Congress. To take advantage of this power, young voters can take steps to make sure their voice is represented in future elections. The current statistics show that, in Michigan, voter turnout was approximately 49% among the ages of 18 to 29 in the 2022 midterm election, with a trend that has been rising over the last decade. Although the representation of all voters is important, it is important that more young voters get involved in this upcoming election on Nov. 3 to help guide the direction of this country towards a better democracy.
Getting involved in the voting process is essential because we must not allow individuals like the president to become the protagonists of our democracy. That role belongs to “We the People” as stated in the U.S. Constitution. In addition, the Constitution of Michigan allows voters to approve and propose laws, called initiatives, once the required number of signatures is obtained. Afterward, the initiative goes to the legislators for verification so that they can put it on the ballot. Using the student body to motivate others to start an initiative can be positive for our democracy.
In the end, we will always need to keep striving to improve our democracy. We do not need to worry about future elections because we can leverage the tools that the Constitution provides us. Taking a proactive approach to our voting process, in any way we can, will ensure the voices of young voters can be represented in future elections.
Andrews University students can look at the Berrien County websitefor more information about voter registration.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.