Tuesday was a testament to the power of student leadership. It was a glimpse of what we, the "apathetic youth" are capable of. Turnout tripled; over a thousand more votes were cast this year than in 2002 at the six on-campus polling locations. Each additional vote was the product of the hard work, enthusiasm, and faith of student leaders who believe in civic engagement. On Tuesday, Penn proved that we are not a campus where "your vote doesn't really matter anyway."
The influence of Penn students is far greater than the 1,521 votes they cast here on Election Day. The neighborhoods around Penn, where many students live, also saw significant increases in voter turnout. In addition, many students voted via absentee ballot in their home states.
Penn Leads the Vote was founded in 2004, when Jason Oberman and Farrah Fries saw the potential for a sea change in civic engagement on campus. With Penn Leads the Vote, they began to inculcate a culture of voting at Penn. They generated a 280% increase in campus turnout while other local campuses struggled to break 20%. This year is only an extension of their efforts, proof that the model of Penn Leads the Vote works even in a year without a presidential election! Thanks to the support of Fox Leadership, the University, and our student body, our success is demonstrable and sustainable.
This year we went to the polls and were counted. For the students who voted absentee in Virginia and Montana, voting alone may have had a significant impact on the Senate. More importantly, the students who took the time to vote on Tuesday did so because they are living lives of political and civic engagement. Every vote counts, and as those vote counts rise, policies change. We voted because we know that government will take notice in the long run. As youth voting rises, youth issues will rise to national prominence. Do you ever wonder why the cost of Medicare is such a huge issue, but the skyrocketing cost of college tuition is not?
Our grandparents' generation accepted the mantle of leadership at an early age. We are a generation that lay dormant. Unconvinced of our impact, too well versed in statistics for our own good, some thought that voting didn't matter. They are wrong. Even now you can see the energy and engagement of our young leaders, who seek not only to vote but also to actively engage in policy-making and governance. It is time that we shape government to reflect our values, too.
Thank you all for your passion and your support during these past few months. Our work is not finished!
Brendan Darrow,
President of Penn Leads the Vote
