May is an important month. We begin with the collective spirit of International Workers’ Day and close with the solemnity of Memorial Day, a time to honor the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Yet, nestled between these pillars of labor and sacrifice is the Primary Election Day, living expression of our hard-earned priviledge. But a familiar, troubling pattern is that while Baby Boomer and Gen X voters reliably clear their schedules to cast their ballots, only about a quarter of millenials and Gen Z partiicpate. They aren’t just questioning the candidates but questioning whether the government itself is an engine for prosperity or a roadblock.
This “opt-out” culture carries a heavy price. When turnout is low, the vacuum is often filled by extremist candidates. These figures tend to prioritize polarized, ideological agendas over cohesive, pragmatic policies needed to uplift the society as a whole.
A future defined by job insecurity, rising healthcare costs, and a housing crisis has made many vulnerable to misinformation. In this climate, some politicians have swapped substantive policy for “word salads,” using algorithm-driven social media to stoke “us versus them” divisions among neighbors to gain their votes. While these divisive tactics might oc- casionally tip the scale by driving young people to the booths through fear or anger, it is not a sustainable strategy for a healthy republic. It is true that AI and TikTok can blur the lines between truth and fiction, but millennials and Gen Z are increasingly savvy. They know when they are being tricked.
Democracy isn’t just about the “ultimate sacrifice” we honor at the end of the month; it’s about the small, consistent sacrifices we make to participate in it today. The most dangerous choice isn’t voting for the “wrong” candidate. Rather, it’s choosing to have no voice at all.
Sowmitra Ghosh
Duluth, GA