Monroe grad offers cure for voter apathy

By LESLIE MORIARTY

Herald Writer

MONROE — Why don’t people vote?

Ask that of 18-year-old Monroe High School graduate Matt Carlson, and you’ll get an award-winning essay.

Carlson, now a freshman at Oberlin College in Ohio, recently won the best high school entry in The Center for Voting and Democracy essay contest.

For that, he received $200 and "lots of publicity," he said.

"My essay is on their Internet site, and it was on NPR (National Public Radio)," he said.

Carlson’s essay had three main points.

First, he said the use of the Electoral College makes individuals feel their vote doesn’t count. He said it should be abolished.

Second, he said there should be more ways to register to vote, and he suggested computer registration.

Third, he said the two-party system leaves many people feeling like they are not represented, and he suggested proportional representation of partisan views.

"No two ideologies are going to cover everyone," Carlson said. "There could be 10 or 20, who knows how many?

"Just the fact that the president and congress represent the Republicans and the Democrats means that a lot of people with views outside of that realm aren’t represented. I can guarantee that there are voting people in the U.S. that don’t identify with those two parties."

He thinks allowing more parties, including the Libertarians and the Green party, would be ideal.

Carlson, who is majoring in philosophy and music performance and plays the tuba, will vote for the first time by absentee in Washington state.

So, he does he like for president?

"Ideologically, I’d love to vote for Ralph Nader," he said. "But realistically, that would reduce my vote to being a vote for George Bush, which is the greater of two evils.

"It’s very sad and cynical to me that people today vote against one candidate, rather than for somebody."

Because the next president will have U.S. Supreme Court appointments, Carlson said he may vote for Al Gore to ensure more liberal justices.

At his private college 30 miles from Cleveland, students are politically oriented, so most vote.

"When I think back about high school, very little was said about it," he said. "I think most everyone thought it didn’t really matter because whomever was president would have little effect on their day-to-day lives."

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Riley Boyd, 6, left, and sisters Vivienne Boyd, 3, ride a sled together down a hill at Anderson Center Field on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County shouldn’t expect snow and cold to leave any time soon

Residents can expect a reprieve from the snow until possibly this weekend. Colder than normal temperatures are expected to remain into next week.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.