Voices for Vote 16 Podcast Tells Story of Movement to Lower the Voting Age
My new podcast series explores the value of lowering the voting age as a way to encourage youth civic engagement and tells the stories of people leading the Vote 16 movement in the United States.
As a youth leader for Vote16, I developed and conducted a podcast series, released in 12 parts, to share first-hand perspectives on the movement. The interviews focused on the value of lowering the voting age to include 16- and 17-year-olds in municipal elections and motivating greater youth civic and political participation.
Through this project, I was fortunate to capture many amazing voices, including leaders and organizational representatives for the Vote16 movement, as well as parents, educators, lawyers, and those active in town politics. Notably, there are interviews with influential Vote16 youth advocates, such as Yenjay Hu, Krisha Ramani, Lila Nields-Duffy and Charlotte Bizup, all of whom have made significant progress with the movement in their municipalities. It also includes interviews with advocates like Wilfred Chirinos and Allyson Gardner, who lead advocacy efforts with Generation Citizen and the League of Women Voters of Maine, respectively.
These conversations support the view that lowering the voting age, even at a limited local level, supports young people in their political participation, and can create a habit of civic engagement for life.
The interviews revealed several important themes, including:
Our nation’s history of under-representation and voter disenfranchisement leading to these voting rights conversations;
trends, such as inconsistent voter turnout, and growing youth civic interest and activism, which indicate that we are perhaps at an inflection point in youth voting rights conversations; and finally,
predictions that youth voting rights will remain an important and debated topic, and that youth involvement in this dialogue will serve to increase their civic and political participation.
Interviewees drew from their experiences to offer advice to those interested in supporting the Vote16 movement.
Participate civically!
Support local Vote16 campaigns!
Organize for single issues you feel connected with (e.g., environment, gun control) and amplify youth involvement and voices in those movements!
Connect with and support youth in civics organizations and local governance!
Build your knowledge of Vote16 and similar youth-centered political movements!
Connect with sponsoring organizations such as Generation Citizen and National Youth Rights Association!
Seek out groups with overlapping interests!
Join or launch local Vote 16 campaigns to advocate in your municipality!
Form coalitions with youth and allies!
Develop relationships with local representatives!
Ask for support!
Support public discourse about Vote 16!
I encourage you to watch the series and let me know your thoughts!
Anya Khera is a rising junior at Wellesley High School in Wellesley Massachusetts. She also serves on the Vote16USA Youth Advisory and is a Youth Member of the League of Women Voters of Wellesley.
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I think it is a great idea, Anya. I especially like the part about limiting it to local elections. I'm an Old Boomer now, but I remember fighting to get the voting age lowered to 18. We felt that if we could be drafted and have our lives put in danger, we should have a say in the matter. While the draft is long gone (hopefully forever) the responsibilities that come with turning 18 and becoming legally adult are still more challenging than those we encounter at 16.
Yet, the challenges we face at 16 are very real as you well know. The ability to have your voices heard (and listened to) at the local level will not only improve your community but help to prepare you for the responsibilities to come as well. I know it probably sounds trite in these complicated times, but I have always remembered a phrase my great grandmother taught me about voting: "Many voices make better choices."
Pete