(Courtesy of usconsulate.org.hk)
By Kelsey Thomas, Staff Writer thomask15@up.edu
Like half of all Americans ages 18-29, sophomore Michie Sasai will not cast a vote in the presidential election. However, unlike most of her continental-born peers, Sasai does not have a choice.
The 182,111 residents of Guam - a U.S. territory - are American citizens and are able to elect their own governor and legislature, but are not able to vote in any U.S. elections. The same standard applies to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island. The president is elected only by electors from the fifty states.
Despite this, Sasai said Guam citizens tend to be politically informed.
"We are very involved with our local election" Sasai said.
Junior Tara Benaventa says that although her family and friends are also very involved in local politics back in Guam, they pay less attention to the United States electoral elections.
"There is a mentality that whatever happens in U.S. politics doesn't really affect Guam because we are so far away and so disconnected," Benaventa said.
Benaventa said that growing up, she never felt like Guamanians would reap benefits from being able to vote in the presidential election. If given the choice today, however, Benaventa says she would cast a vote.
"Because I live in Oregon now, I feel more involved and affected by the political climate in the U.S.," Benaventa said.
Sasai said it is upsetting that half of young people in the U.S. who are able to vote do not take advantage of that opportunity.
"If you are able to have a say in something so important in our lives I would take that opportunity," Sasai said. "People always argue that it's a civic duty for you to vote and I believe that 100%."
Although it is not something she grew up thinking as a possibility, Sasai says she would definitely take advantage of the opportunity to vote in the presidential election if she could.
"I would be very happy if I could," Sasai said. "I would be voting. I would be taking it seriously."
