Yes We Did

Many have already celebrated yesterday's presidential election as a turning point in American history. Not only will Barack Obama be the first black president of the United States, but he tapped into demographics that have been underrepresented in past elections, including resurgent black, shifting Latino, and increased youth votes. Beyond any other recent election, the nation's youth stepped up by contributing to the campaigns and by actually voting.

Columbia students have long taken an active role in politics, and this year's participation will help to solidify this legacy. Notable examples of student activism include the 1968 protests, anti-Apartheid efforts, and reactions to the controversial visits of Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This year, early reports suggest that the youth vote had a record turnout at the polls, and Columbia students took full advantage of their long weekend to vote and campaign. Campus organizations like the Columbia Political Union, the College Republicans, and the College Democrats increased excitement about the election. Over the break, the College Democrats campaigned in Virginia. While the College Republicans did not organize a group campaign trip, some of its members campaigned on their own all over the country. The non-partisan CPU organized an election-watch party on Tuesday night. Based on events leading up to last night, and the giddy celebrations afterward, it is clear that students regarded this election with keen interest and showed a desire to be part of history.

After predictions that the youth vote would drastically alter the 2004 election went unfulfilled, it is inspiring to see college students out in force participating in this year's elections. In the 2004 elections, voters aged 18 to 24 showed the lowest turnout of any age group, at a mere 49 percent. Young people seemed disheartened and apathetic, undecided between two candidates who did not represent views they believed in. Yet this year, many precincts have reported an increased numbers of student voters. For example, the precinct that includes Indiana University at Bloomington documented a full 287 percent increase in votes from 2004 to 2008, and other exit polls showed large gains as well, according to the New Voters Project. In general, Obama's message seems to have garnered more enthusiasm. According to the Associated Press, almost six in 10 of his voters said they were excited about what Obama would accomplish as president. Fewer than three in 10 McCain voters felt the same way about their candidate.

Yet we should not be content simply knowing that young people have begun to vote in large numbers. In the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, obstacles to registration, deliberate voter suppression, and breaches in voting protocol demonstrated a racial bias that may have changed the course of elections. These impediments bred a pervasive cynicism not only for the electoral process but also for politics in general. These problems have persisted in the run-up to the 2008 election, signaling a trend that has yet to be addressed. According to early reports, yesterday's irregularities also included the length of lines at the polls, but this may simply have demonstrated unprecedented voter enthusiasm. Voting problems most likely did not affect yesterday's election, given the wide margin of victory. But those incidents that did occur are nonetheless blemishes on our democracy, indicating the faults of an old-fashioned, un-standardized ballot system. In the coming years, we must use technology to create a modern voting system where ballots are easy to count and disenfranchisement becomes impossible.

After two years of campaigning, a Columbia College alumnus is set to move in to the White House, and as students, we should be proud of our involvement in forming the nation's future.