More students should vote to make sure voice is heard

In the 2014 California general election, only 8.2 percent of young people age 18-24 voted. In the most recent DASB Senate election, the voting turnout was even worse—5.9 percent.

Out of the 23,000 students at De Anza College, about 1,200 even bother spend a minute to log onto myPortal and participate in this simple process despite the constant bombard of posters and flyers during the campaign.

The voter turnout in the Senate election is so low that it is doubtful if the elected senators and student trustee can truly represent the majority of the student body.

Sobia Chahal, 18, mathematics and economics major, is a recently elected senator. She learned about the low voter turnout before running and said students should be more aware of this issue.

“The lack of student involvement in the voting system makes student concerns slightly less apparent,” Chahal said. “We need to give students this information about the resources they are paying for.”

In fact, the Senate does fund a variety of programs such as tutoring centers, EcoFund and Inter Club Council that largely benefit the students. But many students are unfamiliar with just how much power DASB can exert.

Chahal said that students have varying levels of information about the Senate and that not every group on campus gets actively involved in saying how the money should be divided equitably.

Chi Tran, 21, marketing major, candidate for the vice president position of Environmental Sustainability, said excessive regulations on the election and the attitude of professors all decrease candidates’ opportunity to promote themselves.

“A lot of teachers don’t allow candidates to present in class, which take away the chances for students to meet them,” she said.

Tran said campaigns are prohibited indoors because the administration worries that students will be bothered.

Elias Kamal, 18, political science major, and recently elected student trustee, said, “Many people are unaware of the DASB Senate and those who are may not want to partake in the election process.”

College-aged people should be the group that is the most civically engaged. The power of the country and its government will transfer to our hands in the coming years.

Unlike the California General Election where you must register and fulfill lots of requirements, the Senate election only requires you to log into the voting site and check the boxes of the candidates you are voting for.

De Anza is more than a place to earn a degree and get away from. It is a dynamic campus at which most students will be spending at least two years. Let’s vote to make our voice heard.