By Sean Grady
Contest Finalist
Each election cycle has its own unique challenges and contemporary issues. However, the problem with young voter turnout being low appears to be ongoing. It is doubtful that any one slogan or rallying call will inspire people to vote if they weren't going to originally; politically conscious people will hear it and vote (they were going to anyway) and the politically ignorant will not hear it and not vote (they weren't going to anyway). Thus, an analysis of what actually gets people to the polls is required. Many in our generation don't vote because:
1. For many, there is no tradition or ritual of voting. Perhaps parents don't teach children to vote or emphasize its importance. This is already being addressed by educating people and increasing awareness, although campaigns like Vote or Die"" or suggesting that a non-voter is a fool couldn't have been too encouraging.
2. At 18, the brain is still developing. The impact and weight of long - term consequences is less clear than it is after actually experiencing related life events. The frontal lobe of many people at age 18 has a good deal of potential development.
3. There is no incentive to vote. Perhaps people don't see anything in it for them and reject appeals of ""civic duty."" For a variety of reasons, it is clear that many people simply lack the drive that brings others to the polls.
4. There is a disassociation between effort and result, manifested in the idea that their vote doesn't count. The weight of any one vote is vanishingly small, but the opportunity cost of voting is great. Thus, it is no surprise that people hold an attitude of apathy. Arguments that we survive as a group by making group efforts can only go so far.
I have a solution, or at least an approach, that addresses these problems: waffles. To encourage more young voters to get to the polls, serve waffles. Specifically, offer waffles at the polls just for showing up.
1. Waffles create a tradition. Eating creates an atmosphere of friendliness, familiarity, and bonding. Even if you don't agree with the people you're eating with, you're going to look forward to the tradition of ""waffle day.""
2. The sugars and fats provide inexpensive energy for growing minds - literally, chemical energy.
3. Waffles are a very clear, tangible incentive. Everyone needs to eat, so the opportunity cost is a wash; just a few moments filling out forms and waiting in line between waffle bites. If you were on the fence about voting, now you can at least go for the waffles.
4. Between creating a more consistent tradition and offering a clear incentive, a concerted group effort will convince individuals that they are important (as opposed to ""no one else is voting, so why should I?"").
Please don't mistake my attempt at light humor as irreverence. A few more details could be worked out to make this a viable plan. I imagine we could create waffles for less than $0.50/waffle. We could make some batches with egg substitute for our vegan friends. Speaking generally, this plan conditions voters to like voting, i.e. voting is positively reinforced with waffles. One or two waffles should be offered to anyone stepping out of a voting booth. Specific issues come and go, much of how a candidate will perform can only be seen once they're in office and our economy is going to hell, but we could always enjoy a nice waffle come November.
- Sean Grady
UW-Madison student
""$1000 for 1000 Words"" was a contest held early in October challenging UW-Madison students to both discuss why the youth vote has been traditionally low and come up with unique solutions to the problem. Finalist essays will run every day until the winning submission is published Nov. 3.
