With midterms coming up in less than a month, For most young adults, this is their first where their ballot counts, or their last where it doesn’t. Either way, growing up seeing adults and politicians that have nothing in common with you can be a defeating experience as a teenager.
Climate policy, housing and economics are all issues that will affect us for the rest of our lives, and we don’t have a say. It can feel as if “my voice doesn’t matter” has become the slogan for most hopeless youth activists. Luckily for aspiring political advocates, a ballot isn’t the only way to affect an election. For teenagers caught on the wrong side of an election day, here’s what you can still do.
First, in the state of California and some other ones (Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, you get the gist), anyone turning 18 before election day can pre-register to vote. For the excited 17-year-olds, if you are able to vote on election day, you can register now.
California’s deadline to register to vote for the November 3 election is October 19, with conditional (same day) registration open until a little after that. If you live in a state where this is the case, and are old enough, this is the fastest way to have your voice heard: with your ballot.
But, if you’re one of the unlucky ones (like me) who can’t vote just yet, don’t worry, there’s other ways to do it. Most of your local politicians will be desperately searching for interns and volunteers for their campaigns, and with good reason. Most people will respond much better to an energetic 17-year-old on their front porch on a Monday afternoon than their perceived greedy, slimy politician. Throw out your ballot for a pair of sneakers and get moving. Somewhere between dog barks and no-soliciting signs, you’ll find your voice.
Luckily, if door knocking and face to face conversations aren’t your forte, the easiest first step is probably in your pocket. Right up to election day, you’ve probably seen dozens of ads talking about how the other candidate has taken a trillion dollars from the Big Bad Guy Political Action Committee. Yet, there’s a reason why politicians are targeting the newest and most volatile form of advertising: it’s the one where they get to the most young, impressionable people.
You don’t just have to be on the receiving end of another targeted, attacking ad. Share voter registration deadlines, write opinions, and ask questions when politicians post reels — that is, if the comments are turned on. There is one catch though. Involvement without information isn’t getting your voice heard: it’s another form of doom scrolling. When you see targeted ads and media, do more research. Getting to the bottom of things and sharing how you think is the fastest way to learn about candidates and the issues of the campaign. If we want politicians to take our opinions seriously, we should take them seriously first.
Even after all this, there’s probably still one question on your mind. Does any of this actually matter? Let’s be honest, there’s nothing like a vote. A single ballot might never make the difference, but there is nothing as official as casting a vote on election day for the candidate that you support. As frustrating as it is, no amount of reposting stories, knocking on doors, or writing opinions will replace that feeling. It hasn’t for me.
But an election is more than the votes cast on that day. It’s the decisions that shape whether thousands of otherwise unaffiliated people vote or don’t. It’s the way people learn about what their candidates actually stand for. It’s the conversation on a chilly afternoon between a young intern knocking on a door and an old lady that has already made up her mind. Your voice matters there before it matters anywhere else.
On November 3, I’ll watch millions of people do something I missed by 12 days. I’ll probably be a little jealous. But, maybe democracy doesn’t begin at 18 when my vote is counted. Maybe voting is the culmination of my voice, not the beginning. My ballot can wait 12 days. My voice won’t.
Editor’s note: Eligible 16 and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov.
