Show Think your Vote doesn't matter Think again For higher education the 1988 ele elections are perhaps the most crucial in recent memory The proposed initiatives on the November November November Novem Novem- ber ballot are directed blows at the educational system in Utah the effect of which could viably set higher education back a a decade It is the view of HORIZON that as American citizens we should all exercise our rights to vote esp especially as s students represent a large percentage of the pop population lation here in Utah According to Dan Jones and Associates professional pollsters in 1984 70 pe percent cent of higher educations' educations students registered to vote and yet the lowest voter registration turnout seems to come from the 18 to 24 24 age group Why you may ask According to Jones of those students that do register most will only do so if they feel there is something on the ballot that will directly affect them All too often the halls of have echoed with the statement But why should I vote My one vote wont won't make the difference Yet we at HORIZON feel it will According to a recent poll taken by professional pollster J. J Bardsley in the Sunday September 25 edition of the Salt Lake Tribune At the present time neither the opponents nor proponents have a majority of the the decision in the hands of the undecided voter He also refers to a dramatic change in voter attitudes' attitudes towards the three tax initiatives in the past two past two weeks stating that Utah's voting population is deadlocked The statistics indicated by Bardsley's s poll are as follows Initiative A Sept 25 Sept 8 Aug AugIS 18 Favor 44 55 56 Oppose 43 32 29 Undecided 14 1 13 3 15 Initiative B Favor 45 50 53 Oppose 46 41 11 36 Undecided 9 10 11 Initiative C Favor 43 J v 49 Oppose 46 41 42 Undecided 12 12 9 According to Bardsley these results are based on telephone in interviews interviews interviews in- in with registered voters which have a maximum standard standard standard stand stand- ard error range of 4 percent plus or minus The educational issues in this election are of such importance that their effects if passed could touch all of the students here at Tuition increases crowded classes and program cuts might be a reality if students dont don't stand up and vote On the other hand if the students of the state were to put their voting in opposition of these amendments according to the statistics listed above the in initiatives initiatives initiatives in- in would be defeated Time has taught us great lessons as to results of our own passivity We students are the future leaders and must take time to study the issues that affect us and vote according to the dictates of our con con- science |