Students Advocate for Lower Voting Age

Students across the U.S. are increasingly engaging in efforts to influence voting behavior and advocate for voting rights. At Albany High School, students Nirvaan Jaswal and Sam Beynon are campaigning to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections, emphasizing the importance of youth involvement in democracy. Meanwhile, at Brown University, enthusiasm for the upcoming elections is palpable, yet voter turnout among students remains low, with only 32.1% participating in the 2022 midterms. In Massachusetts, teenagers Shayne Cytrynbaum and Lucy Targum are mobilizing efforts to encourage voting through letter-writing campaigns and community service initiatives, reflecting a broader trend of youth activism. As various organizations promote civic engagement among young people, the upcoming elections pose significant opportunities for their voices to be heard, despite some being ineligible to vote. The collective push from these young advocates highlights a growing recognition of the importance of youth participation in shaping democratic processes.