Youth Civic Engagement and The Future of Democracy

posted on November 10, 2022 by Kasey Armstrong

All people—individually and collectively—engaging in action make

our communities and democracy more just and equitable. Focusing on youth
civic participation is important for a number of reasons, one of which is that it can be
formed as a habit, just like any other, by getting involved at a young age. Our
democracy will flourish when all young people acquire wholesome civic attitudes,
competencies, and commitment. In our opinion, this will occur when a growing
number of diverse young people have access to opportunities that help them
develop their knowledge and skills and give them the power to make a difference.
When this occurs, decision-making will become more representative, and
communities will gain from it.

I thought Nancy Thomas' quote you used as your opening line was excellent
because it perfectly captured the misconception about youth turnout that I think many
people have. Younger generations are very politically engaged and active, as
you noted, so low turnout is not due to a lack of interest on the part of many, but
rather a lack of ability. This is another reason why I believe that combining the
lowering of the voting age with funding for increased civic education is so crucial.
Children and teenagers need to understand the system as well as feel that their
voices matter. Achieving both of those goals could be greatly impacted by these two
policy alterations.

The future of the nation's decisions heavily depends on young people.

Education, healthcare, the environment, immigration, housing, gun violence, and
foreign policy that could send them or their peers to war are just a few of the issues
that largely all youth face. Many of these issues also affect youth differently or
exclusively. Young people can contribute important perspectives to these issues
and actively participate in determining their future when they vote and engage in civic
life. Our democracy does not truly represent all people and does not function to its full
potential if youth are excluded or do not participate.

Youth civic engagement is essential for a number of reasons, in fact. While not

a homogeneous group, young people do share some traits that could make
them effective civic actors, and their involvement has advantages. They can be
an endless source of vigor and passion for social change because of their distinctive
perspectives on regional problems and the way they frequently contribute fresh ideas.