So many times I have heard older generations complain about political apathy in young voters, blaming them for sitting idly as the results skewed out of their favor. But with such a big election at stake, instead of asking what the youth can do for their country, we must now begin to ask what our country can do for its youth.
Imagine a country of rolling green hills and bountiful resources protected by politicians and policies understanding of the climate crisis’ urgency. Imagine a well-funded public education system where all children can learn basic math and reading skills in primary school.
Investing in the guidance of young people through the voting process is a crucial starting point in reaching this reality. Many teens are not even aware of the option to preregister to vote due to poor advertisement, while those who were aware, like me, had trouble with the long, confusing process. It wasn’t until a student-organized voter registration campaign walked me through the registration form that I finally secured my “I’m registered to vote” sticker.
But because school districts are not required to ready students for civic engagement and 11 states do not even require a civics class, many high-schoolers remain woefully underprepared to cast their ballot as they enter adulthood.
The numbers back up this missing piece of our education. As of the 2022 midterms, only about one-third of 18-year-olds were registered to vote, according to United States Census data. To put that into perspective, out of the four million students who graduate high school each year, 2.8 million of them are missing in the electorate. 2.8 million per year.
While it’s fair to say that not all of these registered voters will end up casting their ballot on Election Day, many will. Youth tend to have the strongest thoughts on policy, and in every presidential election as far back as 2004, Census data shows that more than 75 percent of registered youth turned out.
In today’s polarized political society, numbers like that can turn an election on its head, disrupting incumbent runs and pushing new, fresh candidates to the center stage. In contrast to today’s political climate, where two-thirds of the youth feel that politicians and elected officials “do not reflect the needs and experiences of young people,” These candidates might actually feel a sense of urgency around the issues we deem important, with a catalytic effect that propels youth to vote more passionately.
But first, we must work to ensure these rights are exercised and protected. Running a drive like the one here at Diamond Bar High School is a sure way to increase engagement within the community. However, addressing systemic issues requires a more long-term, strategic approach. By lobbying local elected officials to pass legislation like the Youth Voting Rights Act, which aims to provide meaningful federal protection to youth voting rights, we can play a bigger role in shaping policies that directly impact our civic representation. It’s time to change the narrative from apathy to opportunity to ensure all Americans have an equal chance to cast a ballot.
