Young voters don’t turn out for local elections

In the run-up to the 2007 Iowa City municipal election, voter registration among the community's student-age population increased by 4,500.

This year, it's declining, reports the Johnson County Auditor's Office.

In the primary, only 11 people voted at the University of Iowa Main Library and 25 at Quadrangle residence hall.

“I certainly was expecting more interest among students,” said Jeff Shipley, one of two UI students seeking seats on the Iowa City Council. “Perhaps it's my failure as an uninspiring, unorganized candidate, but I'm surprised they didn't care a little more.”

Maybe it's not him at all. Young voters have a history of non-participation in local elections.

In the 2007 Cedar Rapids municipal election, for example, 1.7 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 3.66 percent of 25-to-30-year-olds voted.

On registration drives, Shipley, a senior majoring in political science and economics, has experienced “some really obnoxious responses. Some people laugh at you; they don't care and act as if they were offended that you ask them to register.”

Dan Tallon's experience has been better. The other student candidate looks at any young voter he can get to the voting booth as gravy, because it's one more than would have voted otherwise.

“Voting isn't a young person's sport,” the junior political science major from Davenport said.

The surge in voter registration among UI students two years ago stemmed from a proposal to keep anyone younger than 21 out of bars. Tallon wishes that issue was on the ballot again.

Without it, he doesn't expect the same level of turnout and said no one should expect 18-to-30-year-olds to show up like they did for the 2008 presidential election. Then, 71 percent of that age group in Johnson County cast votes. In Linn County, 63 percent of the registered voters in that age group voted.

To be fair, participation in municipal elections isn't all that great among older voters, either.

In the 2007 Cedar Rapids election, participation among 35-to-49-year-olds was less than 10 percent. The best turnout was among those 65 and older, and that barely topped 30 percent.

For Dan Alpers, 33, of Cedar Rapids, two events triggered an interest in local government - the June 2008 flood and the birth of his daughter.

“Ever since the flood, I've been more attuned to what is going on,” said Alpers, 33, who wasn't flooded out but lost his home away from home, Central Corridor Gamers.

Alpers, a graphic designer, believes many 20-somethings are too busy starting their lives - getting married, buying homes, having children - to vote.

“For me, my daughter put things in perspective,” he said. “I started to think, ‘I truly do need to care.' You gain a selfless attitude and in a way you become selfish because you want things to be right for your family.”

Elizabeth Johnson, 29, of Cedar Rapids, has heard the too-busy arguments but said those concerns are more reasons to vote.

“The municipal elections are particularly significant for young people because we are just beginning our careers, just starting our families, just establishing ourselves for the first time, and we have the opportunity to shape our home through the power of voting,” said Johnson, a UI law school student.

“I would argue that there always seems to be time to complain that the current leadership isn't doing well,” Johnson said. “Why not consciously invest some of that ‘complaining' time in learning about the candidates and casting an informed vote for Cedar Rapids?”

Apathy is not age-specific, said Stacy Haynes-Moore, 38, of Cedar Rapids. Regardless of age, voters are busy.

“We talk about jobs, education and the city's restaurant, music and theater scenes,” the Jefferson High teacher said, “but slipping even a few minutes into their day to hear the latest in city politics, or canvass for a candidate, or even stick a sign in the lawn just doesn't make it as a top priority.”

Some of her friends will talk local politics, “but most just nod and smile when they hear me say that I attended a city forum or event,” she said. “They might compliment me for being civic-minded, but I think that they see this as a little unusual.”