Vote South Dakota forum engages youth on election issues

Trina Lapp, an 18-year-old student from Dakota Wesleyan University, emphasizes the importance of youth engagement in politics, particularly regarding the upcoming election. She will participate in the Vote South Dakota forum on September 19 at the DWU campus in Mitchell, where students will collaborate with journalists to pose questions to candidates and representatives discussing various ballot measures. The forum aims to clarify complex issues that voters will face in the November 5 election, including abortion rights and recreational marijuana. The event is organized by several institutions, including South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service. Joel Allen, director of the McGovern Center, highlights the need for voters to understand the complicated language of the ballot measures. Recent polling indicates a decline in trust in democratic institutions, with over 60% of South Dakotans expressing dissatisfaction with democracy in the U.S. This context underscores the importance of the forum in fostering informed voter participation. Cara Hetland, director of journalism at SDPB, believes that the media plays a crucial role in engaging voters and ensuring they receive accurate information. The forum will feature teams of journalists and students asking questions to clarify candidates' positions and the implications of the ballot measures. Lapp, who is particularly focused on the open primaries amendment, recognizes the limitations of social media as a reliable source of information and stresses the need for direct engagement with candidates. The McGovern Center, founded in honor of former South Dakota statesman George McGovern, aims to cultivate civic responsibility among young leaders. The forum represents a significant step towards encouraging informed participation in the electoral process, addressing the challenges of declining voter turnout and trust in democracy.