ELECTION: Not just for millennials

Sholeh, I read “Millennials, this is your election.” I thought; “Who says!”

I’m 72. I feel it’s everyone’s election; that choose to vote.

You said, “the stakes could hardly be higher.” True, but not just for millennials. Having millennial grandchildren, I wanted to understand why that headline, so I read it several times. What glaringly stood out was the statistics. But first let’s be clear, millennials are not the only age group concerned about social issues plaguing our country, including racism, health care, gun violence and discrimination. Now to the glaring statistics as to why millennials don’t vote.

(1.) Too busy 33.5 percent. (2.) Not interested 17.2 percent. (3.) Out of town or forgot 20.4 percent. (4.) Didn’t like the candidate, had registration problems or election hours were inconvenient.

Really? What about early voting and absentee ballots? Then, referring to the millennials as the “internet generation” you suggested voting from a smart phone would address most of the problems. Again, really? Us old folks have voted for decades without smart phones, but by all means let’s create another safe space and make life easier for these poor souls.

Thank God all millennials don’t fall into this description. But if the millennials in that survey, which to me reflects on their dedication, discipline and work ethics, are our nation’s future leaders, let’s hope with age comes wisdom. Millennials are 18-30; studies show “rational” parts of the brain aren’t fully developed until age 25 for men, 21 for women.

“Millennials, this is your election.” Really?

JERRY MARTIN

Post Falls