Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 20002008.More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a close Electoral College win. Someone who wanted to argue that the 26th Amendment strengthened our society might point out that there hasnt been a wartime draft since, and that the socially liberal values younger people are more likely to hold have won some definitive cultural victories since then. Right now, young people express breathtaking cynicism about the U.S. democracy and whether our society cares about them. Each of these decreases in the voting age may have been controversial at the time, but theyre uncontroversial in hindsight. Now that you know how important it is to have your voice heard. Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life We often only know a few months out what our advertising revenue will be, which makes it hard to plan ahead. We are immensely lucky to live in a country that was founded on democratic values and it's an insult to our Founding Fathers to forgo our voting rights. In fact, much of what democracy does is secure buy-in from the population. Participating in politics is a hard-won right in our nation. Youth voters who want to inspire change need to show their support for the candidates whom they feel best represent their needs. Some people might say, Okay, Im with you for all of that, but surely kids younger than, say, 8, would just be filling in bubbles at random, right? Youth casting votes for politicians who represent their interests can radically alter the future of the U.S. government. Top Ten Reasons to Lower the Voting Age - NYRA - National Youth Rights (And I dont think I was unique, either, except in the educational opportunities I had access to.). There is a direct opportunity cost for young adults, who may have less flexible employment schedules or less financial cushion to take time off to vote, or who may be in temporary housing situations where they lack deep community ties. It provides the biggest opportunity you will get to have your say. Data suggests these trends are especially pronounced among young people. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.) If you're historically a repeat voter, you're much less likely to skip a trip to the polls in the future. It happens within marriages, too. Working on a youth voter registration drive last year with the Student PIRGs helped me realize that the best way to support youth voters was by validating the inevitable challenges they will face. They are more peaceful than non-democratic societies, have better human rights records and stronger economies, and they are more likely to protect the environment. The process can be overwhelming, but if we wish to construct our ideal government, we need to contribute our voice. Again, this argument crumbles as soon as you put . 8 REASONS WHY THE YOUTH SHOULD VOTE Speaking at the launch of Schools Democracy Week 2018 last week, Vice-Chairperson Terry Tselane urged SA's youth to get registered and be ready vote in the 2019 National and Provincial elections. Speak up, make a choice, and take part in the election to protect your interests in your first few years in the real world. Unfortunately, not all who can vote will, meaning that fewer young people get to directly influence issues that might affect their lives for years to come, including college tuition reform and federal job programs. For young people voting can be new and intimidating, with rules, deadlines, and many guidelines in place for specific states. 3. 6. Youth energy proved vital during the civil rights movement in the 1960s, and again during the Vietnam War. What universal suffrage aspires to is a society where you get a voice not because youre a member of the right group or rich enough or worthy enough, but just because youre a person and a member of this society with a stake in its future. What you may consider irrelevant or unnecessary now could end up having a bigger impact on your future than you would think. Wheelock College Launches New Online Masters in Social Justice Education, Helping Autistic Adults Have Healthy Relationships, Its Time to Push Pause on Artificial Intelligence, Says BU Philosopher, Learning to Eat (Healthily) in Padua, Italy. The researchers studied this by comparing children who turned 18 just in time for the election to children who turned 18 a day too late. She or he will best know the preferred format. It gives you the power to decide how the country is run. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Voting should not be a final responsibility you earn only once youve taken on all of the other responsibilities of society; it should be one of the first core rights you exercise as a member of society. Understanding Youth Attitudes and Beliefs, Youth Voting and Civic Engagement in America. 1. Researchers have found that voter turnout is a habitual behavior: The best predictor of whether youll do it in the future is whether you have a pattern of doing it. The Power of the Youth Vote | University of Hartford I tell them: Why cant the answer be to change our government? Thats why, even though advertising is still our biggest source of revenue, we also seek grants and reader support. 7 Election Facts to Show You Why Your Vote Matters - Global Citizen Lots of people dont succeed. Why Young People Should Vote Boston University 172K subscribers Subscribe 8.1K views 2 years ago Why should young people vote? In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Although they are requesting an absentee ballot from outside of their home state or country, the student must still be registered to vote in their state of residence to be eligible to vote in a U.S. election while away. 9 Reasons We Need Young Voters More Than Ever - TheBestColleges.org Voting is complicated, even though older and more experienced people, as well as elected officials, make it out to be something as easy as filling out a form. 1. Because they understand the necessity of winning approval from this voting majority. Why is youth voting important . They need to see that protesting and pressuring politicians through other methods is effective, but ultimately, they need someone in office that aligns with their views because other methods beyond voting can only do so much. Youth have changed the political outlook of a country by voting, even recently. Students who are studying abroad or travelling during the election and thus, not in their home state or even in the U.S., must request an absentee ballot through the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form. The power of youth voters was evident during the 2016 election. My colleague Matt Yglesias made the case for this five years ago. Lowering the voting age does seem to help (at least a little bit) to create a population of high-participation, civically engaged voters or, at least, it did so when Austria tried it. The sample of two dozen countries isnt representative of all nations. Voting is not this easy process where you just check the box for President. It took almost two centuries to deliver on the guarantees in our Constitution, especially to women and people of color, but now we face a new challenge - the majority of young people don't vote. Even fewer vote in in primary and local elections. As of Oct. 30, more than seven million of them had voted early or via absentee ballot. That you could choose what you studied in school? By Karen Turner Oct 15, 2020, 9:00am EDT. Young people have adult responsibilities, but are denied the same rights. 8. She and other experts recommend mobilization efforts that lead first-time voters through steps like learning how to register and by what date; how a ballot works, whats on it and how to fill it out; where to go to cast a vote and what to do when you get there. All rights reserved. Yet the rule persists, even though many 16- and 17-year-olds do pay taxes, even in the face of a generation of passionate, smart, and informed teenage activists, and even as it becomes obvious that our current political system is failing our children. Oct. 8, 2020 Most young people in the United States don't vote. In recent years in the U.S., they write, the number of young people who express an interest in elections (76 percent), care who is president (74 percent), have interest in public affairs (85 percent), and intend to vote (83 percent) is especially high.. Perhaps because the people who are currently experiencing it get fewer platforms to talk about it, have less practice articulating their perspectives, and are stereotyped as bratty, entitled, and ignorant especially if they complain about their lives. The most important thing to remember, experts said, is to consider these short, medium and long-term interventions in combination any single one taken in isolation isnt likely to drive a big increase in youth voter turnout. It took almost two centuries to deliver on the guarantees in our Constitution, especially to women and people of color, but now we face a new challenge - the majority of young people don't vote. Typically in the United States,national elections drawlarge numbers of voters compared to local elections. Medford, MA 02155, Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Millennials have been credited with the decisive vote in the 2012 election of Barack Obama for a second term as president; Obama won 67% of the national youth vote, proving more popular in crucial states such as Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, over his opponent Mitt Romney. Enfranchising 75 million American citizens is the right thing to do, and theres some evidence suggesting itll lead to a more engaged, more informed electorate that can at last do right by some of its most vulnerable constituents. And granting them the vote was simultaneously a reflection of their full citizenship and full personhood under U.S. law, and an instrument by which the law came to take their interests more seriously. Almost a century ago, the political scientists Charles E. Merriam and Harold F. Gosnell identified several groups of Americans whose turnout rates were comparatively low, including young people, minorities, the less educated and the poor all of whom are still less likely to vote today. Experts emphasize that there is no single fix to increase youth turnout. Sign up for the Teen Vogue weekly email. is a documentary filmmaker based in Boston. If you earn the right to vote alongside the burden of responsibility, weve burdened kids with responsibilities without extending the rights. I have heard stories from friends and acquaintances who recalled how they got far through the process of registering to vote or requesting a ballot, but didnt complete an easy step or missed a deadline. Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Like, Im fairly embarrassed by the formulaic writing and lack of nuance in this 11-page essay on the New Deal and how it transformed the role of government that I wrote for the History Day competition when I was 12. Because young people can change the outcome. This may be both due to differences in socioeconomic status and, for current students . According to the U.S. Census Bureau, young people make up over 10 percent of the American population, so it is a necessity to cast your vote. But two BU students, Belize Combs (CGS20, CAS22) and Suwilanji Muwowo (CAS23), are working to change that this year. It's not very hard! In an era in which Twitter is preferred means of communication for the President of the United States, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat have become as crucial as the candidates' own websites for disseminating information about relevant issues. Use, this Tuesday, a right that . Voting is your chance to stand up for the issues you care about like affordable housing, economic justice, environmental protection, and quality education. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Weve actually lowered the voting age before without any problems. Read on to find eight (of many reasons) that teens should register to vote when they are 17 and vote when they are 18 - your vote matters! Therefore, they shouldnt get to vote. Too young to vote? The science of maturity Allrightsreserved. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Instead, research points to interventions on a short, medium and long-term timeline. Of course, this raises an important question: Did the last big change in voting age make our society more democratic? Why Young People Should Vote | Teen Vogue Register. In 2016, millennials made up 27% of the eligible voting population, but only 51% of this voting bloc ended up voting, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams tells Teen Vogue. You don't want to insult our Founding Fathers, do you? Review: View Boston from High Atop the Pru, To Do Today: Free Outdoor Screening of The Lost World: Jurassic Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, To Do Today: Grab a Free 7-Eleven Slurpee, BUs Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy. In 2016 . But before scolding young Americans, look at their elders. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won Nevada by 26,000 votes, with youths in the state favoring her by 52%, compared to Republican candidate Donald Trumps 35%. If you wish to see a bill on the policy agenda, vote for the politician who you know will support that bill. These myths can reflect a lack of understanding of the complex dynamics that shape young people's engagement in democracy. Since then, its only become more apparent that our current system is failing kids and that theyre competent to fight for a better one. Most states have a winner take all system where the popular vote winner gets the states electoral votes. Three young people explain the logistical challenges of voting in past elections. With a youth voter turnout estimated to be as high as 72%, this example of an election upset proves how important it is for younger voters to show up at the polls. Building a Platform and Team. CLEVELAND You . Kids mostly cant open a bank account under their own name, work a job, or pay taxes. ARTICLE Why Voting Is Important "Voting is your civic duty." This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Why not? They are confused by our high tech era, our fashion, our interests. Eighteen is the most common voting age elsewhere in the world, too, but a few countries including Brazil and Austria permit 16-year-olds to vote, and until 2007 the voting age in Iran was 15. Virtually no one wants to go back to denying 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds the vote. Related: Heres Your Guide for Voting in the Midterms, for Teens and by Teens, 2023 Cond Nast. These objections fall into two categories: that children and youth lack sufficient capacities to vote, and that their voting would cause themselves or others harm. Youth turnout data may be less dispiriting when viewed in the context of participation in other forms of political action. PDF Youth Voter Participation - IDEA I feel tremendous hope and optimism that young voters will help move Georgia and our nation forward.. The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. Mario Tama The 2018 midterms are November 6, and the this election may be in the hands of youth voters. The most principled democratic stance is that suffrage should be universal. Building a relationship with the political process as early as possible is key to making voting a lifelong habit: you may already be familiar with the phrase, "Vote early, vote often." Politicians working harder to cater to young people would be a good thing, given the devastating recent rise in child poverty. Below are some of the most compelling reasons that young voters are needed more than ever in local, state, and national elections. One of the most important ways we can create change and a better future for ourselves is by voting, because that's how our government has been set up. Why Are We Obsessed with Barbie? She works with the Student PIRG on civic engagement, food insecurity, and environmental efforts. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful.How You Can Make Your Voice HeardIf you are not yet 18, or are not a U.S. citizen, you can still participate in the election process. They dont know the differences between candidate policy positions. Barnum Hall Many young adults are in short-term housing situations, off at college or trade school, or in a first job or apartment. Tufts University Your email address will not be published. You can also contribute via. They dont even know what the executive can and cant do. Taking that seriously means extending the vote as far as we can. First, its kind of perverse that the fact that kids are excluded from participation in many corners of society gets used as an excuse to exclude them from the civic sphere as well. Elections can be called at short notice - if you don't register in time, you may not be able to vote. In other words, the higher the youth voting rate, the closer the youth rate is likely to be to the overall rate. Casting well-considered votes is something you will want to teach to your friends, family, and children, so why not start now? While young voter participation in 2016 declined by 2% from a record 52% at the 2008 election, today the voting population includes almost equal parts millennials and baby boomers. They dont reliably vote for the candidate who they agree with more on the issues. What Young People Themselves Have to Say 32 4. But between schools and parents, children would have more supports in making it to the polls than young adults living alone in college or their first full-time jobs. 2. A passionate, politics loving, 18-year-old who aims to give voice to the voiceless via journalism, community outreach, and advocacy. So while Id be happy about the voting age being lowered to 16 as some have proposed and such a plan is far more realistic than mine it still falls short of our obligations to our fellow citizens. Wade, justices wrote that each state should be free to allow or limit abortions. Who Is the Lucky Mission: Impossible Fan? And we cant do that if we have a paywall. For many millennials, adulthood brings many new challenges, like college, marriage, buying a house, paying for your own health insurance, and/or starting a business, all of which could radically change your perspective on political issues. 3 reasons why voting is important - National Youth Council of Ireland

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