At today's Round Table, Civic Fellows Marc Spenser Bauzon, Clara Medina, and Frank Yang interview Brianna Cea, co-founder of Generation Vote and a Research and Program Associate in the Democracy program of the Brennan Center for Justice, following an exciting Civic Forum in which 75 high school students deliberated seven different voting reforms (things like lowering the voting age, automatic voter registration, open primaries) that could potentially improve youth voting, in New York and nationally. Civic Fellows engaged in ranked choice voting for their top three reforms; you too can vote here. Fellows top choices will be shared at a first-of-its kind Youth Voting Rights and Engagement Summit in Albany Nov 8-9, 2019.
Why does this matter? In 2016, voting rates were the lowest in 20 years; only about 55% of voting age citizens casting ballots, and those who voted were disproportionately white and older (only 36% of 18 and 19 year olds voted, while over 70% of people over 70 voted.) If “did not vote” had been a candidate in 2016, it would have handily beaten Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and almost the two combined. Gen Z and millennials are a growing part of the electorate--with the potential to transform the political landscape--if they turn out to vote in numbers equal to seniors.
Click here for more framing and background readings and resources on the Civic Forum. And remember to vote if you are 18 and to encourage/exhort all your friends and family over 18 to vote on Tues, Nov 5 (or through early voting if your state provides it!)
