Young people have powerful voices. When they choose to engage in the political sphere for causes they feel passionate about, major developments can take form. While it is easy to not feel the effects of today’s policy decisions as a young person, the impacts of these new policies will be felt with the passage of time. A politically educated, engaged, and passionate youth has the ability to make significant changes for their future. The inclusion of young people in our nation’s political processes has the ability to strengthen our democracy and empower a larger portion of the population to fight for what they believe in.
There is a strong sense of disconnect between young voters and the political sphere in Washington. The New York Times claims that young voters often feel “…disengaged and deflated, with only 32 percent saying they are ‘almost certain’ to vote in November.” It is important to spread awareness of how important everyone’s participation can be. Encouraging others to vote for representatives that promise to work toward causes they believe in helps bridge the divide between young people and the political world.
For many young people, it is hard to introduce politics into day-to-day life and stay up to date when the news is constantly changing. Luckily for us, there are many ways to fit news updates and political briefings into a busy schedule. For example, there are numerous podcasts hosted by various news networks that can provide morning news updates. You can sign up for newsletter style emails that are delivered to your inbox every morning, available for whenever you have time to read. Taking just a few minutes out of your day to stay educated on current events can help you make informed decisions come election season.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by a busy schedule and find yourself struggling to make time to research candidates and make a voting plan, especially on a college campus. However, there are often organizations, clubs, and online resources on campus that can assist you through the process. Youth participation in elections is crucial to the strength of our democracy. We are capable of making great changes in government, if only we participate.
Sources:
nytimes.com
rockthevote.org