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Letter: Young people can cancel out old people’s votes

FILE - In this Thursday, July 26, 2018 file photo, Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity interviews Roseanne Barr during a taping of his show in New York. Fox News says its new streaming service will debut in November. Fox Nation will launch Nov. 27 with original content featuring, among others, Fox News Channel hosts Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham and Brit Hume. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

Young people can cancel out old people’s votes

The latest polls have Ben McAdams more or less even -- or even ahead -- in Utah’s 4th Congressional District, and Shireen Ghorbani behind in the 2nd District but not out of range of a major upset if turnout is unusually high.

It would be a shame if either or both fall short of defeating their Republican rivals because thousands of young people couldn't be bothered to vote — and in this of all elections, inescapably in large part a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency.

If you are similarly distressed and know a young person who says “What's the point?” or “What's one vote more or less?”, make it personal.

Tell them: "That older guy down the street who watches Hannity every night and hangs on Trump's every nasty tweet? You can bet he'll be voting — for Stewart or Love. But if you also vote, you can have the satisfaction of knowing his vote is now canceled, zeroed out, gone. Whatever else happens, you have blocked a Trump supporter, while at the same time doing your duty as a citizen. And who knows, if your friends and their friends, and on and on, can be persuaded to do the same, maybe your vote really will make a difference this time."

Bill Dooley, Salt Lake City

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