Some family members of mine believe everything they see on the news and internet to be true without doing their own research and fact- checking. This leads to most of them not being able to form their own opinions, because they just repeat what they say without double checking their facts. They’re also ignorant on a number of different topics, and instead of choosing to educate themselves or ask for help with better education on these topics; they chose to stay ignorant. This isn’t just a problem with my family ,however, being uneducated politically–, this is a nationwide problem, particularly with young people. “The recent evidence from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, “Nation’s Report Card,” found that only 23 percent of eighth-graders are proficient or better in civics and a mere 14 percent in U.S. history.” Similarly, the report also found that “only 13 percent of (overall) students scored proficient in history and only 22 percent scored proficient in civics…” Further, “40 percent of students scored below the basic level of knowledge in U.S. history, a decline from 34 percent in 2018.” (“Hendrickson Report: The Rise in Civic Ignorance Continues.)” The youth in this generation is not being educated enough in school to be prepared enough to vote with confidence in knowing what they’re voting for. Political Ignorance with voting is dangerous, and it will only end with improved civics education, and better social media literacy.
“Many people vote based on promises made by politicians, and thinking that those promises will better their lives. For example a lot of people voted for Trump because of the promise he made that he would ‘lower grocery prices on day one.’” -Jeyla Salomon-Caceres. However, that hasn’t happened, and he’s imposed a bunch of policies that people that voted for him don’t even agree with, because they never checked or researched what his policies were. That wouldn’t have happened without the issue of political ignorance with voters. One problem voters have with voting, specifically young voters, is this. The survey, which gathered insights from 1,000 college students nationwide, revealed that while nearly 60% of students find voting easy, over a quarter of them consider the lack of information on voting processes a significant issue. These students expressed a desire for increased education opportunities on voting within their college community.” (“How Civics Education (or Lack Thereof) Shape Youth Political Engagement.)” Many young voters don’t find the process of voting as the issue, for them it’s the overwhelmingly lack of information on the candidates that they’re actually voting for that’s the problem.
There’s a large problem with ignorance in politics, and this is with people of all ages. For the youth, it’s the lack of civics and government education taught in schools. For the older population, it’s the lack of knowledge of being able to use social media, and understanding that not everything we see online is real or the truth. Especially now with all the A.I. and fake misleading information circulating around the internet.
There’s also a massive problem with more and more people giving up on the voting process all together, especially young people and younger generations. “According to more data provided by CIRCLE, there was a decrease in voter turnout from 2018 to 2022, specifically in youth voter turnout.” “How Civics Education (or Lack Thereof) Shape Youth Political Engagement.” This is very concerning, because our younger generation is the generation that can change things and make our country and world a better place, not the older generations.
In addition, Also demographics, and where you live can play a big part in youron your civics and voting literacy. For example, people living in more underdeveloped parts of the country, or areas where education is not as easily accessible, tend to have less education in civics, and voting all together. “As per a CIRCLE report, a majority “(57%) of youth aged 18-34 express an intention to vote in the 2024 presidential election, but certain demographic groups, such as Black youth (44%), nonwhite rural youth (48%), and youth without college experience (41%), show lower levels of enthusiasm for voting.” (“How Civics Education (or Lack Thereof) Shape Youth Political Engagement.)” Many more people could be voting, and would want to vote if they just had the means to a better education on politics and civics. Another thing that’s very discouraging to these groups, is the politicians making promises and not fulfilling them, which is just so disheartening especially to these young people that voted them in.
There has been a decrease in voting as well with college students. “(Specifically, I am thinking of the 47.6% of students at my college who did not vote in the 2016 election. We attend a private liberal arts college, which specializes in economics and public policy, and maintains a general education curriculum that, in many ways, affords students a privileged perspective on civic responsibility.)” (“Apathetic or Failed by Civic Education?)” Apathy isn’t the cause of this, it’s the misinformation spread in political campaigns causing young people to not vote, as well as all the lies, just so they can get voted in to do nothing their whole terms.
Many people may say that “ignorance is bliss” or, they’ll say “why should I learn about politics if i’m not a politician?” and “my vote won’t really change anything, so why does it matter??All of these claims are simply incorrect, because ignorance being bliss, is just a distraction to the injustices taking place on our congress floor. like renaming the Gulf of Mexico to The Gulf of America for example to distract citizens from all the extremely disturbing bills our current president has passed. To name a few, stopping trans people from joining the military, defunding the department of education, and making the economy even worse by imposing tariffs, that only makes everything more expensive for us. Everyone should learn about politics even if they’re not a politician, because learning about politics is the path to good knowledge on political candidates, to vote for the one that best represents the country’s needs, statewide needs, and even local community needs. And the last stance some people have of their vote not changing anything is simply not true, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN A SWING STATE, elections are always close; so every politically intelligent vote counts.
Works Cited
“How Civics Education (or Lack Thereof) Shape Youth Political Engagement.” Fair Elections Center, 29 Aug. 2024, fairelectionscenter.org/media/how-civics-education-or-lack-thereof-shape-youth-political-engagement/.
Pondiscio, Robert, et al. “Students’ Ignorance of U.S. History and Civics Remains a National Embarrassment.” The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/students-ignorance-us-history-and-civics-remains-national-embarrassment. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
ITR Foundation. “Hendrickson Report: The Rise in Civic Ignorance Continues.” ITR Foundation, 12 Aug. 2024, itrfoundation.org/hendrickson-report-the-rise-in-civic-ignorance-continues/.
EVC, Every Vote Counts. “Apathetic or Failed by Civic Education?” Every Vote Counts, Every Vote Counts, 7 Nov. 2022, www.evcnational.org/the-evc-blog/qtfb06oadxu1wlvu88j2b5djfdga2c.
Jeyla Salomon-Caceres
