Why The Youth Should, Scratch That, MUST Vote & Be Engaged
During this time of year we often hear our friends question “why should I even vote?” or “why even care about politics?” Make no mistake, young people are often too intimidated to get involved in politics, as the system can be daunting, confusing, and down-right divisive. To make matters worse, politics at times seems out of touch with your own concerns. But, we promise, you should and must vote and get engaged in America’s democracy because today’s decisions impact your life.
Vote - It’s Your Privilege
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” — John Lewis, late civil rights activist and member of the US House of Representatives for Georgia
Voting is America’s primary tool for change. With one stroke of a pen or the push of a button at the ballot box, Americans define the future. Remarkably, with such great power, youth voting turnout is frighteningly low -- leaving our voice to the winds. We encourage you to vote for the following reasonings:
First…
Young people have been influential in American politics since the birth of this country. If you do not believe us, defer back to history. Of the founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence, several were actually fairly young: Alexander Hamilton was 21 years old; Aaron Burr was 20; and James Monroe was only 18 years old. These young men forged a new path and laid the foundation for the greatest nation in the world.
Do not let anyone discourage you from voting or being involved; there is no such thing as being too young to care. The fact that you may not own a home or have not started your career yet, has no bearing on how engaged you can be in your government. Imagine what our founding fathers did at their age, and consider what could be accomplished if more young people were involved in politics today.
Second…
Your vote matters because elections are closer than one assumes. One of the most common sayings from peers under 25 is that they don’t think their vote counts or their voice doesn't matter. There is nothing further from the truth. In fact in 2018, the Democratic primary for Baltimore County executive was won by only 17 votes, and in 2016 a state house seat in New Mexico was decided by only two votes! Close elections are not that uncommon in local races, including Mayor, Council, Commissions, and School Boards. Literally one vote determines the character of a community for decades to come.
Despite popular belief, young people make up a significant portion of the voting population. Consequently, this means that the youth vote can effectively sway the outcome of an election. In fact, Millennials and Gen Z will make up approximately 37% of eligible voters in 2020, equalling Baby Boomers and prior generations. Despite this, the United States has the lowest youth voter turnout in the world; the cap between 18-29 years olds and those over 60 is twice as large as Canada and Germany. As a result, campaigns and elected officials spend their time focusing on other voting populations, pushing aside issues younger voters care about. If young people turned out at election seasons, we would transform our country, as elected officials would be forced to pay attention to our policy concerns.
Finally… even if you put aside the other reasons, vote if you care about at least one of the following:
Reproductive Rights
Finding a Job at a Livable Wage
Social Security
Clean Air/Clean Water
Safe Neighborhoods
Trash pickup
Safe Clean Parks and Recreation Areas
Student Loan Debt
Credit Card Debt
Health Care
Climate Change
Education for Your Kids Someday
Civil Liberties
Your Future!
Be An Informed Voter
Now inspired to vote, take time to make informed decisions. There is no doubt that this is harder than before. The first place to look is at your sample ballot from your election board or commission’s website, or visit vote411.org. There, you can find who is running for various offices, and then visit each candidate's campaign website to read their platform and issues. Note, the campaign's sole purpose is convincing citizens to vote for them, so consider this slight slant. Always cross-reference with news outlets and other third-party mediums.
Today, it is easier than ever for special interest groups, opposition, or foreign governments to spread disinformation on critical issues. Social media is the battleground of the disinformation wars, where young people are the target. The goal is for a user to share the misinformation to friends, who then share, and continue the cycle. To ensure an article or ad is credible and reliable, check the source. Refrain from sensational sources or those that appeal to a particular political ideology, where the mere objective is click bait.
The reality is that many voters base their entire vote solely on what they see on social media, broadcast news and newspapers, effectively turning away from important information. Do not base your decision on the slate of one new’s source, open your horizon. While it may seem counter-intuitive, spend some time learning about the pros and cons of a candidate, even your preferred candidate, by reading various news sources. This allows for a deeper, more critical analysis of the issues and the candidates. After all, to truly understand something you need to begin to understand both sides of the coin.
Moreover, while not always possible in larger elections, getting involved and meeting the candidates personally is the best way to be informed. Have an open discussion with your local elected officials, ask questions, and perhaps even attend a meeting. Meeting people, learning from those who live it and talking to other constituents provides you with experience you cannot get from an online presence.
How Can I Get Involved?
Feeling inspired yet? Besides voting, there are numerous ways to get involved in politics. Involvement does not mean giving public speeches or writing legislation in Washington D.C., but rather starting local. After all, all politics starts local. Some examples of ways to get involved include phone banking or knocking on doors for your favorite candidate, volunteering for a local campaign, working at your local legislative office or for organizations such as the ACLU -- just to name a few.
In addition, internship opportunities are always available for students. Most institutions have political science and public policy departments where you can explore an abundance of internship opportunities, many which earn college credits. Student clubs and organizations are also available for both party-specific and non-partisan civic opportunities. Your local legislative office or volunteering for your local party committee are other great ways to get started; most elected state officials have experience starting out and working in their local legislative offices at some point in their lives as well.
There are many opportunities to get involved and learn. Our tip: Start small. Ask how you can help, meet people, find your passion. With those guideposts, we promise you will have plenty of opportunities to be involved and help affect change.
The Future Is In Your Hands
We leave with you two charges: Get involved, and VOTE. Your future, our future is in your hands. Start small and we promise you will be surprised at how rewarding your involvement can be.
Let's make the world a better place.
Meet The Authors…
Cadie is 22 years old and has been volunteering for her county Democratic Committee for over six years and working at New Jersey’s Third Legislative District Office of State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Assembly Deputy Speaker John Burzichelli and Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro for nearly two years. Cadie also works in Business Development at CME Associates, a civil and municipal consulting engineering firm, where she works directly with a partner of the firm to aid in developing business and maintaining client relationships. She recently graduated Rowan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a minor in International Relations. She plans on attending graduate school to obtain her Masters of Public Administration and subsequently attend law school.
at the age of 24, is a Council At-Large and Vice-President of Delran Township Council, where he serves as one of the youngest elected Councilmen in the state. Tyler was first elected to office at age 19, the youngest in Delran history. Before being elected, Tyler attended local board of education and town council meetings to learn about the issues impacting his community. He served as the founding Vice-President of the Delran Education Foundation, a non-profit raising money for school initiatives; and the Delran Recreation Advisory Committee. Currently, he is in his final year at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he also studies Politics at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
