Have you ever wondered why political candidates spend so much time visiting elderly housing complexes and senior centers. During the 2008 presidential election, when younger voters nationwide reportedly turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots for President Obama, the turnout rate for seniors still far outpaced those of younger voters, according to data from the AARP.
In the Washington DC area just over 74 percent of all seniors eligible to vote cast their ballots in 2008, above the national average of 70 percent. The state with the highest voter turnout for seniors was Louisiana at 82 percent, according to the AARP.
The point is not whither you support President Obama’s re-election, or Mitt Romney’s candidacy. There are issues at stake in this coming election concerning Social Security, Healthcare, and others that will profoundly effect seniors in the Metro DC area, and the entire country as a whole.
Whatever you’re political leanings I advise you do your homework for the upcoming election. Try to look past the 30 second commercials you’re sure to be hammered with in the next two months and get to the truth of the matter. As much or more than any other age group it is the senior citizen whose voice must be heard.
Your vote is your voice as an American citizen. It’s your opportunity to be heard, to hold elected officials accountable for their decisions and to have a say in important issues that affect your community. On Election Day every vote matters, so get out there and vote.