With the US caught in election fever, it’s hard to open any major news website without seeing it mentioned and until November 5th, it will be inescapable. As the drama continues to become more and more intense, it’s hard not to know the latest election news, with social media largely contributing to this making it more accessible than ever.
For a lot of teens, however, politics isn’t exactly a subject that gets them excited, or even remotely interested and I don’t really blame them. The way that many news sites discuss the election makes it almost impossible for those who are new to politics to understand what’s going on without having to learn everything from scratch, putting off young voters due to the lack of context about candidates and their policies.
It’s hard to find out what’s actually going on due to politics being such a sensitive topic that most questions will spark a long rant from family members that just pushes teens away from wanting to find out anything in the first place.
So how can teens and young voters get a grasp on this year’s election news and it’s many, many issues and drama? Well, through voter education.
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The United States Election Assistance Commission defines voter education as the act of providing voters with basic information about the voting process and elections. This may seem like a simple issue but in 2018, CIRCLE (Centre For Information & Research On Civic Learning And Engagement) found that 39% of youth who did not vote didn’t know where they could and 26% needed help with their questions about candidates, ballots or polls. These barriers prevented young voters from accessing the right to have a say in who runs their country. While the youth vote played a massive role in the last election due to the unprecedented increase in young adults voting, there is still work to be done and voter education is the best way to do it.
When teens received education surrounding voting, they were 40% more likely to vote once they turned 18 but where can teens find information surrounding this year’s election? Before you get lost in a sea of candidates and policies, start with the basics of voting. If you are old enough to vote, make sure that you have registered before your state’s registration deadline.
Decide whether you want to vote in person, by mail or through early voting. When making this decision, consider whether you will be able to go to a polling station on election day. If you have more specific questions, the USAGov website provides all the information you need about voting in the USA.
Once you understand how to vote, you can start finding out who to vote for. One of the best overviews of the presidential candidates that I have seen has been from ProCon. Their side-by-side comparison chart allows you to compare the four major candidates views towards a variety of issues.
It provides a good entry point to the US election and allows you to get a general feel of the candidates before you research them further. One the best chances for you to form your opinion on this year’s candidates is the next presidential debate, taking place on September 10th on ABC. As it’s live, it will give you a genuine idea of what candidates are like and what they think on certain issues due to them not being able to pre-plan every answer.
But why is voting so important? If you talked to everyone you knew, they all would say a different answer. Some would say it’s because it’s a chance to make a difference in their country, no matter how small it may be.
Others might say it’s a chance to exercise their rights and to have their voice heard. The vote has always been important, especially due to the fact that many groups have had to fight for their right to vote over the centuries, leaving a lasting legacy on many people’s attitude to politics and democracy.
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If you are voting for the first time this November, voter education is the best way to feel prepared. Even if you can’t vote, it’s a chance to understand how the election works without having the pressure of having to vote yourself. Voting is exciting, with elections a chance for major change and voter education gives you a chance to join in.