Lars Hafner, Political Analyst, on Youth Volunteerism in Politics

It is a fact that each generation of youth will one day be running and making decisions about our country. In order to create a sustainable political future for the United States, we must take responsibility to develop outlets in which youth can participate in and volunteer within politics at a young age. This will continue their growth and knowledge about the world of politics within the US and give them ways to become civically engaged.

Luckily, there are endless opportunities for youth to volunteer in the political realm. So of which, are very simple and easy to do and something that can even be done from the comfort of your own home. In order to encourage the youth of today to get involved in politics, creating ways they can inspire change is key.

One of the most significant ways to have your voice heard and get involved in politics is by voting. For youth that are of voting age, registering to vote is a straightforward process and can be done entirely online. Once you find out your polling place, it is a simple as showing up and casting your ballot. Voting inspires many that their voice is being heard and they are making a difference within their country.

Being informed is just as important as voting. It may seem very simple, but in fact, it will carry a lot of weight in figuring out the candidate that best represents you and what you want for the future of your country. Informed youth have a better stance and understanding of what is happening in our political climate and therefore, will feel more apt to get involved themselves.
Thankfully, there are many ways youth can become more informed through various news outlets, speaking to their local representatives and many more. When youth want to become more involved locally, they will know where they want to invest their time.

Once you have become informed and made your political decision on candidates, you can begin to volunteer in other ways such as campaigning for your chosen candidate. Candidates rely on the support of volunteers and motivated ones at that. At the campaign headquarters, there is a multitude of tasks that need to be done. Some of these include answering telephones, making and handing out flyers and marketing materials, as well as going door to door and speaking on your candidate.

When youth begin to volunteer at a young age, they ultimately feel more empowered to make a change in our country. With the numerous opportunities to volunteer in politics, it is surprising how many still don’t get involved. As the older generation, it is our job to try and instill this in youth and inspire them to come forward, have their voice heard, and make a change.

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 April 28, 2019.