Bantams and Ballots

Talia Cutler ’27

Executive Opinion Editor

The future of our country is once again teetering on the cusp of a major election. It is expected to break records, both for having a biracial presidential candidate and someone who does not know how biracialism works on the ballot. For many of us college students, it is our first presidential election in which we are eligible to vote — but will we? The energy I can best describe from the majority of college students is apathy. Here, we encounter a troubling issue: voting is largely inaccessible on college campuses, with many people I talk to unsure of where to get an absentee ballot, or if they are even registered to vote. 

Before you start screaming about civic duty and how lazy kids nowadays are, let me preface by saying I believe that this generation is one of the most politically aware in recent history. According to CIRCLE, in 2022 Gen Z was already voting at a higher rate than Millenials and Gen X-ers did in their first eligible elections. This does not change the fact that registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot is inconvenient, confusing and an added stressor to campus life, which is primarily rooted in the here-and-now: what exam is coming next or which going-out-top pairs best with Four Loko Friday. How taxing! Especially on a slightly sequestered campus like Trinity’s, it is easy for the happenings of the world beyond Summit Street to be drowned out by the roar of spectators watching boys soccer lose (again), or the library alarm going off for yet another bomb threat. Simply put, no one wants to figure out a notoriously precarious ballot — it can be thrown out if you use the wrong color pen or have a stray mark on your paper. Restrictive voting hours and complicated registration processes force limited options onto college campuses, where academics and social life remain prioritized over national affairs. For such an important demographic for the upcoming election, voting is simply not on our to-do list. 

Another factor in college students abstaining from voting is a lack of understanding surrounding early or absentee voting. One person I spoke to lamented about having to drive all the way to New York in order to vote in his home state. He was shocked to find out that you can request a ballot to be sent to your Trinity mailbox a month early. This is indicative of a deeper issue in the education system: voting education is notably absent in schools both public and private, and this needs to be reformed. In 8th grade Civics class, you learn about the three branches of government, the electoral college, and the fact that voting is the great American duty. There is no information taught in schools about the act of registering to vote, or requesting an early or absentee ballot. This is concerning, as in 2022, 41% of registered voters plan to vote early, and that number is steadily climbing. 

To be fair, Trinity runs initiatives to get students politically involved, such as the voter registration tent in front of Mather a few weeks ago. However, for out-of-state students, this does little in terms of information and resources. It must be acknowledged that this kind of outreach really only works on a certain kind of student — a certain demographic of person is going to approach that tent in the first place: either those already interested or those who want free candy and have the ability to nod vigorously and walk away. 

Trinity has the power to give students the day of November 5th off to push students to vote and engage in their civic duty — they won’t, but hey, it’s worth throwing it out there. It feels comical that we had two full days off last year to celebrate the bicentennial and talk about the enduring excellence of Trinity College (sure…) but we can’t have one day off every four years for a presidential election. Most students live in either Connecticut or Massachusetts, so a day off would heavily incentivise going home to vote at a polling place, rather than through mail. But who cares about some lousy election when there are first-year seminars to attend and club rugby practice to fumble through?
On an entirely serious note, I urge the Trinity community to vote in the upcoming election. Whether you live in Fairfield or LA, find time in your busy schedules of complaining in Peter B’s and clogging up the line at the Bistro and fill out an absentee ballot or vote in person. My own political opinions aside, this election has serious implications across the geopolitical realm. If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, you can look it up on “Can I Vote” at Nass.org. If you need to request an absentee ballot from your state, visit “Request Your Absentee Ballot” at Vote.org.