The Power of Young Voters in Social Change

• The speaker is discussing the importance of voting, particularly among young people, and how they can bring about social change. • The speaker argues that young people are not apathetic, but rather, the system is designed to discourage them from voting, leaving them with a small voice in the political process. • Throughout history, young people have driven social change, leading movements such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-War Movement, the Environmental Movement, and the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement. • In the United States, young people have been at the forefront of social change, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-War Movement, and the Environmental Movement. • The speaker notes that there is a long history of denying voting rights to certain groups, including women and racial minorities, and that young people have often had to fight for their right to vote. • The speaker cites examples of young people fighting for their right to vote, including the struggle for women's suffrage and the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. • The speaker, a social scientist, has conducted research on electoral behavior and founded the California Civic Participation Project at the University of California, Davis. • According to research, young people, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 24, vote at significantly lower rates than older age groups, with turnout rates of around 20-30% compared to 40-50% for older age groups. • In California, in the 2014 elections, only 8% of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 24 voted, with even lower turnout rates among young people of color and those from low-income backgrounds. • This means that out of 3.5 million eligible voters in this age group, only 285,000 voted, resulting in a significant underrepresentation of young people in the electorate. • The speaker argues that this lack of representation has real consequences for the political issues that matter to young people, as politicians tend to prioritize the issues that matter to older voters. • The speaker notes that politicians and political campaigns often neglect the issues that matter to young people, and that this is because they know that young people are less likely to vote. • However, if young people were to vote at the same rate as older age groups, they would make up a significant proportion of the electorate, potentially changing the political landscape.- The speaker emphasizes that young people, despite being interested in issues and having the potential to bring about change, are not voting, and this is due to various factors in the system.

• The civic education system in the United States is underfunded, which has led to a lack of civic education for young people, making them unaware of their power in the voting process.

• The rules and regulations around voting, such as registration requirements, disproportionately affect young people, who are more likely to be mobile and therefore lose their registration.

• Young people receive little awareness about voting, and political campaigns often do not target them as potential voters.

• The cultural mindset in the United States discourages young people from voting, with many believing that it's acceptable for young people not to vote.

• Many older voters express negative views about young people voting, saying that they are not yet knowledgeable enough to make informed decisions.

• The speaker argues that these negative views influence young people, making them feel uncertain about their ability to make informed decisions and therefore choosing not to vote.

• The combination of these factors leaves young people feeling disconnected from the political process and unaware of the importance of their vote.

• The speaker shares their personal experience of growing up in a community where people were struggling, and realizing that they did not vote, leading to a sense of powerlessness.

• The speaker became determined to understand the reasons behind this and eventually became a researcher, studying the mechanisms that produce non-voters and seeking to educate people about the importance of voting.

• The speaker emphasizes that voting is a crucial step in bringing about change and that every individual can be a spark for social movement through voting.

• The speaker cites examples of young people making a difference through voting, such as in the 2008 presidential election and in the passage of Proposition 30 in California in 2012.

• The speaker encourages the audience to take action, including registering to vote, discussing the importance of voting with others, and actually voting in elections.

• The speaker emphasizes that every individual can make a difference by being a spark for social change and encouraging others to vote.