Newberry Township residents wait in line to vote in the general election at the municipal building on Nov. 6, 2012. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS — FILE)
When I first registered to vote, it was through my high school government and politics class. My teacher had forms; I filled one out, mostly because my classmates were doing so and it seemed to be expected.
I declared myself an independent, submitted the form and moved on. In the past six years, I’ve voted in a few hometown school budget referendums and the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.
But a few weeks ago, as a friend asked me to sign a petition for a Democratic candidate seeking a seat on the York city council, I told her I couldn’t — I was still registered as an independent. And I wondered, is it time for change?
For my 18-year-old self, “independent” mostly meant “apathetic.” I had no idea what was going on politically in my hometown or state, and had only vague opinions about national issues. I didn’t choose a political party because I didn’t want to identify myself with a group I really knew nothing about.
And now, looking at the state of the two-party system in the U.S. and the consistent deadlock in politics between Republicans and Democrats, I’m not feeling much better about my options.
But that doesn’t mean — for me, anyhow — that I don’t aim to be more involved and educated about my local government. Perhaps I can’t vote in the primaries, but I can research the candidates before my vote in November.
As 20-somethings settle into a community and become more invested in its success — whether it be through buying a home and paying property taxes, eyeing potential school districts and worrying over education cuts, or even just working toward a more vibrant downtown — I think it behooves us to know what’s going on in our local government.
So is it time to choose a party? Maybe not. Is it time to get involved? You bet.
Also of interest:
– Presidential memories for the 2012 election
– Elephants and Donkeys: Dating across the aisle
– Visit ydr.com/politics and the YDR Politics blog for more
