Youth Vote Could Have Big Impact in Divided Wisconsin

The youth vote could be what decides the outcome of the Wisconsin 2022 midterm elections. 

In the 2020 election, the voting rate at UWM was 58.1%, According to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE) campus report, the last couple of elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than 50,000 votes. Panther’s vote, an organization dedicated to raising voter turnout of students and educating them on voting, is hoping to improve voter turnout by 10% this year to around 60%.

The gubernatorial and Senate races in Wisconsin are currently seen as toss-ups. In an October Marquette Law poll, Ron Johnson received 52% among likely voters and Mandela Barns 46%. In the same poll, 47% of voters supported Governor Tony Evers while 46% support Tim Michels. A competitive race like this one typically raises voter turnout for youth, especially in 2022 with issues like abortion taking center stage in the election.

UWM Political Science professor Paru Shah says the candidates for both the governor and Senate races haven’t done a good job trying to relate to or talk specifically to college students about things that concern them, including cost of living and tuition. Mandela Barnes has not visited campus in an attempt to reach younger voters.

“Something I often hear from students is that all the candidates are the same. There isn’t a good differentiation between what they’re talking about,” said Shah. “I would argue that there’s actually a lot of difference between them.” 

Shah elaborated on the impact this election could have on students who care about things like abortion rights, cannabis legalization and funding for state schools like UWM. 

Wisconsin being a swing state makes this particular race important for democracy. In September, the Cap Times hosted a panel at UW-Madison with Michigan secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, Washington Post associate editor David Maraniss and Barb McQuade, a former federal prosecutor who currently teaches at the University of Michigan. The group felt generally optimistic about the upcoming election. They discussed disinformation campaigns, the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and other current threats to U.S. democracy. Benson stated that the outcome of the upcoming midterms in states like Wisconsin is pivotal in deciding whether or not our democracy represents all Americans.

“Every time democracy has been threatened here in the United States, people have risen up to protect and defend it,” said Benson.

In comparison, McQuade commented, “I don’t know if I’m optimistic, but I am motivated.” This motivation is something a lot of people are feeling and will most likely play a big part in the mobilization of young voters.

UWM Student Motivation

UWM student Morgan Bateman said that while she was planning to vote and knows that she should, she feels like it doesn’t necessarily matter. This is not an uncommon feeling among students. With the election fast approaching, information about voting and the candidates is all around us. After seeing the same advertisements for the hundredth time or seeing registration information in every hallway, it’s easy to tune it out. 

“I saw what happened in the previous elections with people not voting,” said UWM student Alex Mazurek.

In terms of UWM messages motivating students to vote, Mazurek said, “For sure, this week alone it’s pretty much all I hear about, like every room I walk into. On one hand that can feel annoying but it’s important and I definitely think it’s kept at the front of my mind. I’m not gonna forget.” 

“I also have friends that are just like, it doesn’t really feel like it matters, all of the options are kind of terrible,” said Mazurek. “I get that too but I just think it’s counterproductive.”

Top Issues for Students

According to google trends data in Wisconsin, key issues on people’s minds have been abortion, crime, education, inflation and taxes. The main issues that are relevant to this year’s midterms are abortion and inflation. 

Students around campus spoke most about abortion rights, environmental protections, cost of living and student loan forgiveness as issues they are most passionate about. 

 “I feel like environmental and climate change issues are glossed over a lot,” said Wehmeyer. “That’s the big one for me, the whole feeling of impending doom.”

“I feel like I’m in a place where my role is more to support stuff that doesn’t necessarily affect me directly: abortion rights, transgender rights, LGBT rights,” said Mazurek. “I feel like I don’t even consider the issues I care about to be political, it is but it isn’t really. I’m just trying to root for the people who aren’t trying to burn us down.” 

“I would like to think that my vote does matter,” said Wehmeyer. “It doesn’t always feel like it but it’s there for a reason so it’s gotta do something right? That’s what I hope at least.”

“I think there’s always hope, we have to get out there and do stuff,” said Mazurek. “If enough people do the right thing it’s always going to eventually work out, it has to, there’s no other way.”