Leslie James
I have recently been very involved in the November elections, actively participating in phone banks, text banks, and following the polls almost obsessively. However, I have realized that this is not the norm for most young people. I was reminded of this when I organized my own voter registration drive and was asked countless times, “What are the midterms?”
The midterms are elections held halfway through a U.S. president’s four-year term, when Americans vote for members of Congress, including all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate.
Which makes me wonder: How can we get young people to care about elections, especially the midterms, if they don't even know what they are?
Personally, after organizing my own voter registration drive, I have realized the importance of making voter eligibility clear, especially when it comes to preregistration. After giving this question some serious thought, I have come up with three ideas:
Make Politics Understandable Before Asking Young People to Care
It's not that many young people lack interest in politics; they may simply not understand how the political system works. I myself only truly began to understand the intricacies of politics after taking my government class. Politics can be complicated, so as part of our civic duty, we must create opportunities to educate the public. Schools are a great place to start. Giving a presentation during your school's assembly about the midterm elections in simple, engaging language (Who are we voting for? When are the elections?) is an easy way to reach a large number of young people. Social media is essential, too! Are you in student government, a club, or another student organization? If so, you have a great opportunity to use your platform to spread awareness and help other students understand why elections matter.
Connect Elections to Issues Young People Actually Care About
Many young people may not follow candidates closely, but they feel the effects of issues like rising costs but they sure know that is expensive, their favorite restaurants and stores have raised their prices. We cannot make politics seem distant by focusing only on abstract policies. Instead, we must show young people how elections can directly affect their daily lives. Rather than immediately diving into polling numbers and which party might flip a seat, we should start with the issues that matter most to them. When young people understand how elections can shape their futures, voting can feel less like an obligation and more like an opportunity to do something meaningful.
Make Civic Engagement Social!
Young people are more likely to encounter politics through their friends, social media, and communities than through traditional news outlets. Schools could organize student-led voter registration drives in collaboration with different clubs or even during sports games.Where available, these initiatives could also help eligible students preregister to vote and guide classmates toward reliable election information. Schools could also encourage students to volunteer with nonpartisan civic organizations or local election initiatives. Additionally, they could host nonpartisan discussions about local elections, giving students the opportunity to learn about candidates and issues while talking with their peers. Young people enjoy socializing, so why not combine it with civic engagement? By making politics a part of our everyday conversations and school communities, we can make participating in democracy feel less intimidating.
Elections can feel incredibly overwhelming for young people, but by making civic engagement more interactive and accessible, we can show them that democracy is something everyone can participate in!
