Lars Hafner, Political Analyst, on the Theory of Change

Over the last political decade, we’ve seen voting registration of youth soar. But even so, just because youth are registered to vote, doesn’t mean the turnout will be high. Youth engagement in politics is something that continues to be discussed and studied. Because they could have such a vast influence on our political climate, it is an issue that continues to be addressed.

So how exactly do we increase engagement in our youth? First, it’s important to understand what can sometimes hold them back and why they refrain from acting on the issues they feel so passionately about. When we talk about youth, we are referring to the 18 to 29 age range which at this point, includes a large portion of millennials with a few Gen Z in the mix.

While many of our youth have registered to vote, they don’t actively participate because either they may find the process of voting difficult and they don’t understand how it works; they feel like they won’t be able to make a difference, and are not encouraged by candidates and political leaders. According to a study done by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), there are ways to promote positive political participation in our youth, by taking a look at some of the critical elements associated in satisfying their needs and growing activism.

These studies have developed a theory of change in order to best support the continuation of sustained youth participation in politics. To channel youth engagement, it is essential to understand what is behind individual motivations whether it’s education, identity, culture, location, and much more.

The theory collectively addresses the fact that youth need a supportive environment to become engaged and involved in politics. Fostering relationships with political leaders can hone in on positive interaction where youth are encouraged to work collaboratively and have a voice. The theory of change sees the repetition of youth collaborating with adult leaders as a positive change in which over time, the public and leadership will see youth as a driving force behind change.

Thus, creating a cycle that transforms youth participation in the eyes of leadership and the public, opening up a more supportive environment for youth to address issues. The process will continue on growing youth engagement and collaboration to a point where it is sustainable, and the public will start to rely on our youth as leaders in politics.

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.co on March 22, 2019.