The Youth Vote
When the youngest generation makes its voice heard, history changes.
In 1972, the ratification of the twenty-sixth amendment gave everyone 18 years or older the right to vote for the first time in American history. Since then, the 18–24-year-old age range has had the worst voter turnout amongst all age groups.
However, this lack of participation in government has not always been the trend. Young people, despite not being allowed to vote themselves, historically fought at the forefront of campaigns. Up until the turn of the 20th century, the so-called ‘virgin-vote’ was a rite of passage for men who had just turned 21.
So what changed? Unfortunately, the 1900’s brought a reform to politics that left no place for the youth activists from years prior. Politics, despite being a privilege exclusive to white men, was an activity of the middle class. In an effort to ‘refine’ the political system, the upper-class moved political campaigns away from the accessible methods of field organizing. Instead, these elites moved politics to galas and private events, effectively eliminating the need for the youngest generation in politicking.
Although many young people are unlikely to vote, some do. In spite of repeated disenfranchisement efforts, people of color make up a strong portion of the vote, specifically young black individuals. The rate of 18–24-year-old African American voter turner has been higher than the national average in almost every major election since the ratification of the twenty-sixth amendment. In contrast, it is the white, middle to upper class youth who are less likely to cast their ballots.
Even though the youth vote is primarily comprised of individuals belonging to minority groups, there is still an incredible deficit in voter turnout. The question is why? For those who live in poor and racially segregated communities, the lack of turnout can be credited to voter suppression — closing polling locations, deleting registrations, and mile long lines for example. But for those who are less likely to experience disenfranchisement, the answer is more straightforward: apathy.
In school, teenagers are seldom taught about modern day government; instead they are educated on historical events. 10 states don’t even require that students take civics courses. The issues of racism, disenfranchisement, and sexism are taught in past tense, as if they no longer plague today’s people. Young adults are taught that their problems are solved, so many feel they can remove themselves from the political atmosphere. If a problem doesn’t affect you, if it doesn’t effect those you love, if you are taught the problem no longer exists, then why would you care? And this is exactly the problem young people face. Apathy — taught by years of ignorance and elitist systems.
After the political ‘refinement’ in the early 20th century, the place in government for youth never returned, and it has led young people to believe that their opinions, that their votes, are inconsequential. Ironically, the youth vote is arguably the most important — important enough to win an election.
Due to increasing exposure to accountability and diversity, young people tend to lean farther left. By not being so hardened by time, they are far more open to change and progress than older generations. This being established, democratic candidates know that it is essential to empower young people. By openly endorsing legislation and change for subjects that affect the next generation (i.e. climate change, education), candidates are once again trying to incorporate youth back into politics.
In contrast to the progressive left, the right tends to make little effort to encourage youth to vote. Conservatives know that young people voting would be dangerous for every level of election, especially nationwide elections. The Republican party relies on the assumption that newly eligible voters will not vote.
However, the 2020 presidential election might just be the exception. With nationwide voting campaigns and constant encourage from well-loved celebrities and influencers, voting has become less daunting to Millennials and Generation Z. Every social media site has voting resources on their homepages when a user opens the app, quite literally targeting the youth who use social media.
Millennials and older members of Generation Z constitute 50.7% of the vote, finally dominating the Baby-Boomer generation. If the younger generations show up to vote, it could cement a win for Democrats up and down the ballot, specifically winning the election for presidential candidate, Joe Biden. Hundreds of thousands of voters under 30 have already voted in some of the most important battleground states like Texas and Florida. In both of these states, the majority of the 18–29 vote has cast its ballot for Biden, and this trend continues onto a national level.
The education system has failed young voters. Elitist politics has failed young voters. The country’s apathy toward its underprivileged groups has failed young voters. But the 2020 election could change the trend. Getting young people out to vote will not only decide who the president is for the next four years, but it will secure a place for youth in politics for the future to come. In this groundbreaking election, history can change, and it will be the young people who make it happen.
