Ever wonder why Social Security and Medicare are referred to as the “third rail of American politics?” How many times during this election cycle have we heard of Paul Ryan’s desire to turn Medicare into a “voucher program”, or of President Obama “stealing from Medicare to pay for Obamacare?”

On the contrary, ever wonder why such little has been said about student loan programs? Why hasn’t President Obama been championing his “Pay As You Earn” program, which caps student loan repayments at 10% of discretionary income? Why hasn’t his campaign highlighted the fact that the  administration has increased Pell Grant funding by 95%?

Likewise, why has Governor Romney  provided so few details on his plans for higher education? His campaign website only has three bullet points: “strengthen and simplify the financial aid system, welcome private sector innovation, and replace burdensome regulations.” It is worth noting the Ryan budget would reduce Pell Grant eligibility by some 1 million students, though it is unclear if Governor Romney would adopt such a policy as president.

Regarding health care,  Obamacare allows young people to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26, extending coverage to an estimated 3.1 million young Americans.  Yet little mention of this provision is made on the Obama website. Governor Romney remains ambiguous on whether he would keep the provision, despite his vow to “repeal Obamacare on day one.”

Why is this the case?  Why do Medicare, Social Security, and other issues affecting seniors – who are only 12 percent of the population – dominate our political landscape, while issues affecting the youth vote, such as higher education and health care, remain on the periphery? The answer may lie in voter turnout rates.

Compare our two most recent elections, the 2008 presidential and the 2010 midterms. 2008 was a landmark election, with the highest voter turnout rate in forty years. Consequently,  the electorate was relatively representative. Eighteen percent of voters were age 30 or younger, while 23 percent were age 60 or older, according to exit polls. 2010, on the other hand, was highly skewed. Nearly one out of every three voters were age 60 or older, while a mere 11 percent were under the age of 30.

The differences between the two electoral results could not have been more dramatic.  In 2008, led by President Obama, the Democratic Party captured control of the Presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.  2010 saw the Republican Party gain control of the House by winning a record 63 Democratic seats, while eroding the Democratic majority in the Senate. As a result, Republicans have been able to obstruct much of President Obama’s legislative agenda, delaying our economic recovery and setting the stage for the upcoming election.

Given the extremely competitive environment of 2012, politicians nationwide are going to maximize their resources and target groups most likely to vote.  That being said, why would any rational candidate try to base his or her electoral victory on the youth vote? Young people are clearly an unreliable constituency, and despite their relatively strong support for President Obama, have done little to bolster his chances of victory. What little attention has been paid to youth issues this electoral cycle reflects this fact.

Young people are the future of this country.  We’re the ones that are going to have to pay off our nation’s overwhelming debt, that are going to have to provide benefits for our aging population, and that will be the driving force behind tomorrow’s economy. We deserve to play a deciding role  in who are leaders are today, not our grandparents. Luckily, we have that power – we simply aren’t using it. What a shame.

Think of what is happening in Syria, where young people are literally sacrificing their lives in order to have the right to democratically choose their leaders. Think of our nation’s founders, who did the same. Yet we can’t even be bothered to stop by the polling place? Regardless of your political affiliation, make your voice heard. Go out and vote on November 6. Don’t let Grandma decide the election.