Editorial

Editorial

Use your voting power to effect civic change

For the remainder of the week, the Daily Bruin is hosting a
registration drive to increase voter turnout for the upcoming March
presidential primaries and the subsequent November election.
Registration cards are inserted in each of today’s Daily
Bruins.

The drive is not an attempt to influence registration with a
particular political party, nor does it aim to sway readers’
political ideology. Rather, our intent is to make it more
convenient for members of the UCLA community to register to
vote.

To a large extent, the effectiveness of the democratic process
rests in active participation of its citizens. But, of all U.S.
citizens eligible to vote, only 70 percent register. Of those
registered, only 70 percent vote. In effect, only 49 percent of
would-be voters decide our future civic policies and choose our
leaders.

Based on these numbers, less than half of the eligible voting
population contributes to the democratic process. The percentage is
even less for college-aged voters. In the last presidential
election, only 44 percent of eligible voters between the ages of
18-29 cast ballots.

The Bruin wants to help change that.

Drop off your completed form at the Daily Bruin offices or in
any U.S. mailbox. Daily Bruin staff will answer
registration-related questions throughout the day on Bruin Walk.
Feel free to seek assistance at the Daily Bruin office, also.

Remember – you must be 18 years of age on the day of the
election in order to be eligible to vote. The deadline is Tuesday,
Feb. 27 – two weeks from today.Comments to
[email protected]