Exploring the Power of Political Advocacy for Young Voices

From a young age, I found myself fascinated by the world of politics. Every day, there are powerful people making decisions that will impact all of our lives. I remember my elementary school holding a mock election in 2012. I, of course, took this extremely seriously, researching both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney’s campaigns to make an informed decision. In 2020, when I was a little bit older, I got involved in the election in a more impactful capacity. I volunteered for Mission4AZ, creating social media content with peers to help get Mark Kelly elected as a United States Senator for Arizona. Working in this capacity opened my eyes to the power of young voices in political advocacy, and I want to share that power with others.  

Historically, there have not been many political spaces open to youth and young adults, and I think it is time that changed. Luckily, with the prominence of social media, there is a much larger conversation happening about politics among younger generations. In this blog, I want to explore how young people can get involved with issues that matter to them. Social media is an easy and great way to do this, but there are so many other avenues as well. This blog will look into several ways young people can get involved in political advocacy, and why it is so important to do so. 

Given the recent election, it is fair to say that American politics has been tumultuous as of late. It can be overwhelming and intimidating to consider. Preliminary data estimates that less than half of eligible young voters, ages 18-29, cast ballots in the 2024 election. This indicates a lower voter turnout from 2020. This decline is concerning, especially considering recent research says 55% of young people (ages 18-29) say the country is going in the wrong direction, and only 16% believe it’s on the right track. 

These numbers emphasize the necessity of getting young adults involved in political spaces. With so few believing that the country in on the right track, I want to make sure other young people have the resources to change this. If you are interested in politics or want to be more involved, I encourage you to follow along. It is my goal to make sure that young people recognize the power they have, and never feel like they do not have a voice to advocate for themselves.