HOW TO: Become Politically Active
Use your voice to spread awareness for the issues you care about.
You’re not eighteen yet. You can’t vote…you might not even be able to drive. But you want to voice your newly-blossoming political opinions. If you’re like me, interested in exploring politics or international relations when you’re older, the restrictions of our young age can be suffocating.
But I can tell you from experience that there are ample opportunities to get your opinions, and the opinions of your fellow students, elevated beyond your immediate connections.
Be an activist
One of the most momentous achievements of the youth in recent times is the nationwide coordination in student demonstrations — that is to say, we’ve been protesting a ton. Whether you agree with the issues being put forward at these activities, it is astounding how our generation is uniting behind various causes. You can either seek out and participate in demonstrations already planned, or you can help organize these political demonstrations on your own or with the help of a few friends sympathetic to your cause.
There are frequently local political demonstrations along Twentynine Palms Highway at its intersection with Old Woman Springs Road. You can find organizations in the area who gather there to get information on when and where through social media or the organizations’ websites. If you want to start something that hasn’t been planned yet in your area, it’s possible, but it’ll take a bit of work.
Take, for example, the walkout on March 14th. I was able to organize YVHS’s effort with a few of my friends through resources I found online (organizations like Women’s March Youth and the ACLU helped) and through various political organizations in the community.
To organize a peaceful demonstration on your own, do the following:
- Notify fellow activists: Websites like The Action Network can help you connect and collaborate with others, in conjunction with social media.
- Make sure everyone knows it’s happening: This will legitimize the action, and it may help with school demonstrations if administration is aware of your plans ahead of time.
- Organize a demonstration agenda: Make signs, find speakers, and coordinate activities to take place during the demonstration.
- Network with experienced activists: Find me on campus if you’re interested in pulling one of these off.
Volunteer
One of my favorite activities in the past year has been working with a candidate for the House of Representatives who is running in California’s 8th District. It didn’t take much to get involved: Once I realized there was a candidate running who cared about some of the same views as those I hold close to my heart, I pulled up their Facebook page, sent a really long DM, and signed up for the volunteer mailing list.
If you find a candidate you want to support, reach out and see how you can help.
A few days later, I had an interview with some of the influential people in the campaign and was invited to attend the state party convention along with them. This won’t happen in every case, but I got lucky with a very responsive and welcoming campaign team.
From there, there are so many ways to help out a candidate, including canvassing — going door-to-door with the purpose of spreading the word about the candidate — calling voters, or simply spreading the word about the candidate. If you find a candidate you want to support, reach out and see how you can help.
Organize
With the many clubs we have on campus, a notable void exists in groups made to encourage civic participation. I know that there exists a possibility for partisan high school clubs such as the High School Republicans or High School Democrats, or perhaps even a basin-wide group for young people who want to be involved in partisan politics, such as the Young Republicans or Young Democrats. You, reader, can start something like that up.
Vote (when you can)
AP Government teacher Mr. Rauch will remind students dozens of times that the most basic form of political participation is voting. When you turn 16, you are able to pre-register to vote. Pre-register online, or find a paper mailer at a local voter drive. You have to provide your name, address, and social security number in order to complete the registration process.
If you don’t know what political party you identify with, you don’t have to pick one. Oh, and heads up — the American Independent is a party preference different from being an actual independent voter, in which case you indicate no party preference.
After you preregister, you get confirmation in the mail after your information is processed and again after you turn eighteen. Once that time comes, you are immediately able to participate in elections. Cool project idea: a friend of mine I met through QuestBridge helped introduce a bill in the Utah legislature to allow seventeen-year-olds who will reach voting age by the next election to participate in this year’s primary elections. Perhaps, working with our state legislature, the youth movement can get something like that done for Californians.
Opportunities are everywhere
There are many ways to participate in the political process despite our limited rights as young adults. Just look where you can; the opportunities are there if you are ambitious enough to seize them.
Josiah Gouker writes freelance for the Odyssey. He is a graduating senior attending Princeton University in the fall. He enjoys politics, Star Wars, and improv comedy.
