United States citizens get to choose what direction the nation should go in each time they enter the polls; from the large scale elections like the presidency or senate races to local elections like county supervisor or sheriff. However, despite this only 51.8 percent of voting age Americans voted in 2020 according to the Pew Research Center.
Voting rights in the United States have a legacy of struggle. From protests in Selma, Alabama, during the Civil Rights movement, to the women’s suffragist movement in the 19th century, and recently more restrictive voter identification laws, the right to vote has and is a hard fought battle.
“Throughout the history of our country, there are examples of people working hard to ensure that everybody has the right to vote and isn’t disenfranchised,” Health Careers Academy Director, US government and economics teacher Ashley Gray said.
Examples of this sacrifice are the loss of Jimmie Lee Jackson, Rev. James Reeb, Viola Liuzzo and Jonathan Daniels while protesting to give black Americans the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in Selma. Similarly, the work of youth protesters in the 1970s to lower the voting age to 18 with the 26th amendment passing in 1971. To the work of the suffrage movement in the 1920s to secure the right for women to vote with the 19th amendment.
“I think it’s sad because we’re watching a new generation of people not understand the work that was put into voting rights. Seeing youth being the demographic that votes the least, is really disheartening,” senior class president Ethan Thacker said.
According to the 2020 U.S. census, Americans aged 18-29 have the lowest voter turnout of any age group with a voting rate just under 50% in the 2020 election. This is compared to just over 75% turnout for voters aged 65 and up in 2020.
“Historically, voter rates for 18-25 year olds are indeed the lowest turnout,” Gray said. “But, the voter turnout rate for [18-25 year olds] has been increasing and is increasing.”
According to Tufts Tisch College circle, of the registered youth voters who did not vote in 2016, 65% did not like the candidates or issues at stake, and 47% had conflicts on polling day including work, lack of child care or a lack of transportation to polling sites .
In America’s polarizing political climate, it is easy for voters to feel like their vote is insignificant, giving reason to discrepancies in the number of active voters throughout different categories such as age, gender or even race. Though in California, large elections are often won by significant numbers of votes, emphasizing that voters have the opportunity to influence local elections.
“Sometimes elections are decided by one vote, or they can be a complete tie,” Marni Rubin, Voter Services Student Outreach Lead at the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County said.
These examples of elections being decided by a few votes is a surprisingly common occurrence. These elections are an example of where a few people can change the result of an election and create tangible change in their community. In the case of a tie, one single voter can swing the result of an election.
“[In the case of a tie,] the election is then decided by picking a name out of a hat. Is it really democratic to decide an election by picking a name out of a hat?” Rubin said.
Those without the opportunity to vote– such as students under 18 or undocumented citizens –still can create change in their community.
“We encourage everybody to vote, but if you can’t, you can still be civically engaged,” Rubin said. “You can attend a school board meeting, an Assembly Member meeting, or a Senate meeting. Anyone that is an elected official in your area wants to hear from you.”
The process of voting is undoubtedly a core tenet of American democracy, that was fought to be secured by decades of sacrifice.
“Voting is a primary way to ensure that your voice is being heard, that you are engaging in the [democratic] process, and hopefully having some measurable outcome on the direction not only of the country, but of the state and of our local community,” Gray said.
Luckily, California has made this right more accessible than ever. Californian’s now have the ability to pre-register when they get their driver’s license or register in other accessible places such as online, at school or the library.
“You [can register to vote] completely online. You just need a driver’s license, or if you don’t have that, a social security number,” Thacker said. “It’s a really easy process, and we’re getting to the point there’s not really an excuse not to be registered or not to be involved in politics.”