Lars Hafner, Political Analyst, on Political Involvement of Youth

Prior to the 2018 midterm election, there was a call to action directed at the youth of America, prompting them to invoke their civic responsibility to vote. Though voter turnout is typically lower during midterm elections than it is for primary and presidential elections, the numbers surged across the board.

The push for increased participation in the midterm election stemmed from multiple sources. Celebrities such as Taylor Swift, who has remained politically silent in the past, publicly encouraged her fans to research candidates and cast their votes. Additionally, survivors of the Parkland, Florida shooting hosted a nation-wide voter registration drive, promoting the idea of political activism. Invoking hot topics such as sexual harassment, gun violence, education reform, racial injustice, and more, these proponents of civic engagement encouraged young adults to participate and play active roles in national politics.

While the increased number of youth voters suggests that more young adults are getting involved in politics, the percentage of young adults who voted is still relatively low. It is believed that around 38% of eligible voters cast their votes in the most recent midterm election, which is significantly higher than previous elections, but this percentage is still lower than the 51% of eligible young voters who voted in the 2016 presidential election.

Of course, young voters getting involved in the current and future states of their government deserves recognition regardless of the numbers, but there is still work to be done. The percentage of young voter participation has obviously increased from 2014 to 2018, but a majority of eligible voters did not make it to the polls. Whether this lack of participation is due to disinterest, a lack of education on the candidates, or a limited ability to physically or financially cast their votes is uncertain.

The millennial voting population is set to become the largest eligible demographic, but with lower participation than their older counterparts, they have yet to become an influential force when it comes to electing government officials. Young adults have the lowest rate of being registered and active voters.

Historically, this is unsurprising as age groups tend to become more active in elections as they grow older, with the demographic of 65-74 year-olds being the most consistent voters. However, if millennials, members of Gen-Z, and all who come after them want their voices to be heard, they will need to be more involved in the voting process.

Lars Hafner served 12 years as an elected representative in the Florida State Legislature and is known as an innovative educator, political analyst, and leader. He worked at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota as the President where he worked closely with the SFC and was able to accomplish many feats in doing so. Lars is a strong advocate for Education Reform and Civic Engagement in our youth. This article was originally published at LarsHafner.coon March 12, 2019