With midterm elections coming up, many students across the country feel fatigued, wondering with each election how—or if—their vote changes the political landscape. But both Mercer teachers and Mercer political organizations are urging people to hit the polls this election.
Joshua Erdy ‘27, president of Mercer College Republicans, said if people want decisions made in their favor, they must do it through the election. Erdy said our election system works well and that individuals should partake in it because it’s a right we hold.
Harris Wallace ‘27, chief of staff for Mercer’s Young Democrats, agreed with Erdy. He emphasized how voting allows people to hold politicians accountable.
“We are 10 years into this exhausting political environment," Wallace said, "and the more that we get citizens involved and the more that we cast our vote, the more that we as people can register the fact that we're tired of a government that just exhausts us with all of these issues instead of actually getting things done and solving problems.”
Wallace emphasized that voting is both inherently American and inherently important.
"Voting is like any right, you got to use it or you're going to lose it,” he said. “I think I speak for all Americans when I say that we don't want to lose this one. A key part of what it means to be in America is casting a ballot.”
Anna Fleming, associate professor of political science, said this upcoming election is particularly important because of the sheer amount of open seats.
“The legislature is up for grabs,” Fleming said. “Every single one of the 435 members of the House are up for reelection and an entire third of the Senate.”
In Georgia, all executive offices are up for reelection, including a governor race between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms that has grabbed national attention in recent months.
“By going out and casting one vote on one ballot,” Wallace said, "you are having a say in so many different races and on so many different issues at one time.”
Fleming said that the origin of the word "democracy" comes from the Greek "Demo Kratia" or “People Rule.” The United States is a democracy because the people are able to vote on their leaders, she added. Voting is a “collective action problem,” which means it takes time, effort, and motivation to vote. But if we don’t vote, we are no longer in a democracy, she said.
Fleming added that she often observes a lack of efficacy among many people. Some may skip voting because they don't perceive a high individual payoff as a result.
“You have to incentivize people by increasing efficacy.” Fleming said. “Maybe I personally can't swing the election, but people like me can. Maybe groups that I'm a part of can. Maybe Gen Z can finally show up and swing an election.”
Fleming said young individuals tend to avoid the polling booths, while their elder counterparts maintain a higher turnout. But there has been an increase of young votes in the past few years.
“Starting in 2018he numbers start going up for the youth,” Fleming said. “It would be great to see them increase in a midterm as well as a presidential election."
Early voting for this years' midterms has already begun in Georgia. Early voting hours and days vary via county. Specific information on county scheduling can be found on Georgia's My Vote Page.
Editor's note: "Cluster Notes" is a new series from the Cluster that will feature stories that spotlight how midterm cycle political issues might affect or are affecting Mercer students and university students writ large. The series will run periodically through Election Day and the month of November.
