Young people don’t vote. At least not reliably. Perhaps they are disillusioned because their elders inherited preventable problems, from global warming to the growing national debt. That’s not good, baby boomers. But politicians, pollsters, and pundits are all focused on the wrong question: will they vote? This makes it seem like caring about young people depends on them showing up to the ballot box, which means campaign promises to get young people to vote are given weight. But if all we hear about at election time is what young people care about, who’s going to care about them in the meantime? Yes, you should.
Outside of election season, youth issues are often deprioritized, supplanted by better funded issues. Money gives voice, but young people are unable to donate large amounts to campaigns or political action committees, an inherent disadvantage of having spent less time in the workforce. When it comes to lobbying, organizations fighting for young voters of the near future are similarly underfunded. In 2024, the Children’s Defense Fund spent $0 on lobbying; Amazon spent $9.53 million. Kids don’t stand a chance.
Campaigns might ask, “How do we reach these kids?” in a temporary attempt to reach young people with their message. But young people are not just a demographic to be exploited for the benefit of partisan politics. Kids are not all right, and they are not all left-wing. Limiting young people to the youth vote diminishes their diverse voices and opinions. Elections aside, we should all strive to build genuine relationships with young people, understand their issues, and work with them on an ongoing basis. If we claim to care about young people, we have a duty to pay attention to their concerns. And when young people lack the resources to amplify their voices, the focus should be on listening.
From campus protests to social media-based activism, young people are really showing up and saying a lot. Over the last few years, I’ve helped Hoover High School students tell their stories in speech contests at the Rotary Club, witnessing firsthand the power that young people’s voices have when there’s an audience. And this fall, as a law student working with the Children’s Advocacy Society, I’ve connected with two local community organizations focused on building youth power, Youth Will and OTTA (Our Time To Act), with leaders under the age of 25. These leaders are very smart; they have serious policy agendas, they’re creating curriculum to educate their members, and they’re doing grassroots organizing. But if young people are speaking and no one is listening, will their voices be heard?
Absolutely. And as they continue to organize, their message will reach a wider audience. In fact, San Diegoโs Youth Commission, which had not functioned since 2015, was revived in 2021, and in July of this year, the City Council approved San Diegoโs first ever Child and Youth Plan. Still, the more we listen to and amplify the voice of young people, the more we will benefit. Not just during election season, but even more importantly, when itโs time to govern. The least we can do is listen to young peopleโs voices. Whatโs more, it could be insightful, innovative, and invaluable.
By the way, this Saturday and Sunday at San Diego City College, OTTA is hosting a Youth Changemakers Summit. The summit is designed to maximize the long-term potential of youth organizing in San Diego. If you know someone who could benefit from this opportunity, please spread the word!
Roland is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, serves as President of the Public Interest Law Foundation, and resides in Pacific Beach.