FGCU professor explains why young SWFL voters skip the polls

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Less than half of Florida's 18-year-olds are registered to vote. As early voting continues, the challenge isn't just getting young people to the polls. It's helping them, and non-voters understand why their vote matters.

Research from the Civics Center shows only about 47% of Florida's 18-year-olds are registered to vote, compared to 78% of people 45 and older. Lee County voter Cheryl Schaaf believes young people need to recognize the importance of civic participation.

"They need to take it seriously and just go out there and vote. They'll feel good about their community," Schaaf said. "So they need to be a part of it. They need to have a voice in there. It's very, very important."

FGCU political science Prof. Bethany Conrad says that gap isn't unique to this generation. She points to a fundamental disconnect between young voters and the political process.

"There's a little bit of a disconnect from young people with the actual impact that these elections can have and that the elected officials have, so they might not necessarily understand the connection that they have to the outcomes that they would be voting for, and so they just choose not to prioritize it," Conrad said.

Conrad says many first-time voters are taught how to cast a ballot, but not always why their vote matters. She says many of the decisions people experience every day are made much closer to home.

"Those local elections, even more so than national elections, usually do affect your everyday life, and it's important to know who those people are that are making those decisions and make sure that your voice is heard in those elections just as much as the election for the president," Conrad said.

For 18-year-old Hendry County voter Tristan Papinaw, that connection was enough to cast her first ballot. She wanted to be part of creating change in her community.

"I wanna, like, be part of the change and, like, have my voice heard. That's the whole reason why we vote...to make a difference in our lives," Papinaw said.

Schaaf says that sense of responsibility never goes away. She views voting as a fundamental right that many fought to secure.

"It's extremely important. That's how we voice our...You know, that's our right. A lot of people died so we can go out there and vote," Schaaf said.

Conrad believes building lifelong voters starts well before someone turns 18. She says helping young people understand how government affects their everyday lives could encourage more of them to participate in future elections.