Youth Expertise - Insufficient Representation Hurts Youth Civic Engagement
Note: This essay is part of CIRCLE's 2024 Youth Expertise Series, which gives young leaders the opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences on issues and dynamics shaping young people's engagement in civic life.
About the authors: Anya Khera - Anya Khera (she/her, 16, Massachusetts) is involved in both local and national efforts to lower the voting age to 16. She sits on the Vote16USA Youth Advisory Board for Generation Citizen and has been pushing for the policy change in her hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Her advocacy tactics range from lobbying council members and running educational sessions to research, including conducting stakeholder interviews. She is also a Youth Member of the League of Women Voters Wellesley, an intern at TurnUp, and a volunteer for Easterseals and World of Wellesley (non-profit, DEI focus). She founded and leads her school's chapter of Amnesty International. Outside of school and work, she enjoys fencing, playing violin and writing poetry.
Hudson Locke (he/him, 16, Texas) serves as the Chairman of the Banned Books Subcommittee on the youth commission for the city of San Antonio. In that position, he has done advocacy opposing banned books. In addition to his position as a commissioner, he works to increase the civic engagement of other young people in his community, in part through his work with voting advocacy organization Youth Do Vote. He often writes op-eds to advocate for the issues he feels passionate about in local media. Outside of work, Hudson likes to watch stand up specials and play strategy video games.
Growing up, many young people are enthusiastic about creating change, yet they are often told that real civic engagement is reserved for adulthood. Despite the passion young people bring to the table, the larger political community often dismisses their voices. The current voting age of 18 doesn’t take into account the large contributions that those who fall below the requirement, like 16- and 17-year-olds, make to society.
This exemplifies a broader issue currently faced by young people across the country: the systemic barriers preventing youth from fully participating in civic activities like electing representatives and approving measures meant to include their best interests. The barriers are exemplified by the lack of representation in their age demographic, compounded by societal misconceptions and restrictive voting laws. It is crucial to dismantle these barriers to create a more inclusive civic environment that values youth contributions and fosters long-term democratic engagement.
Civic Education
The absence of young role models in visible civic positions greatly harms a young person's likelihood of becoming an active civic participant. When young people look at their local governments and community leaders, they rarely see individuals their age represented. All too often, town halls and important school board meetings are held in the middle of the school day, entirely barring young people from participating. This turns civic engagement into a role almost entirely filled by retirees; for example, more than 58% of poll workers are older than 60.
This stark underrepresentation sends a clear and dangerous message: civic participation starts only when you reach adulthood. The lack of representation and education creates a cycle of disengagement. Without role models to demonstrate that young people can make meaningful contributions to their communities, many youth feel civic engagement is out of reach. This not only reinforces societal misconceptions but discourages young people from stepping forward to pursue civic roles; as long as they do not see themselves reflected in positions of influence, they will likely believe their involvement won't matter.
Social Misconceptions and Taxation without Representation
Another significant barrier is the pervasive societal misconception that young people lack the mental capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities, particularly in civic and political contexts. This belief, rooted in outdated assumptions, ignores that by age 16 many adolescents have developed the "cold cognition" necessary for thoughtful decision-making.
Cognitive science shows that while emotional regulation may still be growing, the logical and rational decision-making skills required for civic engagement are well-formed by this age. During a voting-age campaign in Wellesley, Massachusetts, concerns about young people's mental health were raised by town members who believed that 16-year-olds might not be ready for the responsibility of voting. However, history shows that young people, even at the age of 16, have made significant contributions to their communities and society.
From activists like Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her bus seat at 15, to Malala Yousafzai, who advocated for girls' education at 16, to David Hogg who survived the 2018 Parkland shooting and has since become an avid voting advocate, it’s clear that youth can influence expansive and positive change.
Young people have also already proven themselves capable of participating in society financially. Many 16-year-olds are working and paying their fair share of taxes. Yet they lack the representation promised to them. Societal assumptions that undermine youth capabilities must be challenged. Young people can bring fresh perspectives to civic issues, often approaching problems creatively and open-mindedly. Willingness to think outside the box can help communities innovate solutions to persistent challenges. By dismissing these voices, society loses valuable insight into the issues that matter most to younger generations, further reinforcing the divide between youth and civic participation.
A Chain Reaction: Lack of Education Leads to Lower Engagement
Beyond representation and misconceptions, the lack of comprehensive voter education in schools exacerbates the disengagement of young people from civic activities. Without proper education on the voting process and the role of civic institutions, many youth feel ill-equipped to participate meaningfully in their communities. A 2018 initiative by Governor Charlie Baker aimed to improve civics education in Massachusetts schools, requiring students to engage with real-world issues and learn about democratic processes. However, gaps remain. Many students graduate without the tools necessary to understand the intricacies of voting and civic responsibility. These students are less likely to engage with their communities, as a lack of education at a young age turns civic engagement into a daunting task.
Other states with weaker civics requirements provide even less preparation, leaving young people unprepared to engage politically. Without this foundational knowledge, youth are often disconnected from their potential role as informed citizens, further contributing to their disengagement from civic life. Schools must prioritize robust civic education to bridge this gap, ensuring young people understand how to navigate the political system and use their voices. One way to address these issues is by lowering of the voting age.
A lesson on civic engagement is greatly amplified when the teachings can be directly applied in the current day, not taught as a chore to be accomplished in a few years. This would additionally ensure nearly everyone is registered to vote within a community. While many states like Texas require voting registration programs to be offered in high schools, the few times these programs occur, they apply to a minority of students who happen to meet the minimum requirements on that particular day. In contrast, a multiyear stretch of voting opportunities would exponentially increase the likelihood of an individual either voting in at least one election or being registered with the assistance of registrars. Comprehensive voter education equips youth with the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions, empowering them to participate actively in their communities.
Increased Turnout and Improving Democracy
Finally, allowing voter participation in local elections could significantly increase low voter turnout rates and policy quality. Several states and localities, such as Takoma Park in Maryland, have successfully lowered the voting age for local elections, allowing young people to vote on issues that directly affect them. A community in which young people have already proven themselves capable is much more likely to further expand their rights.
Unfortunately, young people are often subjugated to discriminatory laws, such as curfews and traffic restrictions, that paint young people as bad actors. Lowering the voting age would turn young people into individuals who are participants within their local system, not one behest to its often discriminatory practices. This could also increase the quality of policy within a municipality, as it would force cities and school boards to consider the opinions of all of its constituents.
To create a more inclusive civic environment, we must address the barriers that prevent young people from contributing meaningfully to their communities. The lack of representation, societal misconceptions, restrictive voting laws, and insufficient voter education all compound to limit youth participation. We can empower the next generation to become active, informed, and engaged citizens by dismantling these barriers. The long-term impact of youth engagement is profound. When young people are encouraged to participate in civic activities, they develop a sense of responsibility and connection to their communities that endures into adulthood.
It is time to break down barriers and create a future where youth voices are valued and where democracy is strengthened by the diversity of perspectives that only young people can provide.
