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Published October 15, 2008 06:10 pm - Historically, young voters have failed to make their way to the polls on Election Day and have been notorious for civic disengagement. But that is beginning to change. Mat Anderson: Help teens with civic participation In less than three weeks, Americans will head to the polls to not only choose the next president but also to make history. Voters this November will either elect the first African-American president of the United States or the first female vice-president.
But this election is significant for other reasons as well. If issues like war, health care and education weren’t enough to pique the interest of voters, our nation’s worries about a stagnant global economy, unemployment and frozen credit markets have shown all Americans that this year’s election will considerably impact our nation and the lives of all Americans — even teenagers. This fact has begun to resonate with young people, and this year’s youth voting movement is bigger than ever. Historically, young voters have failed to make their way to the polls on Election Day and have been notorious for civic disengagement. But that is beginning to change as was seen in the 2004 election, when young voter participation jumped 11 points to 47 percent, and a recent Harvard University study reported that 61 percent of 18-24 year-olds say that they will definitely be voting in the 2008 presidential election. While these figures show a strong desire among young people to get involved in civic affairs, many young people fail to become engaged for the long term. For example, while 60 percent of teens feel it is their personal responsibility to make a difference in the world, a recent study by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) found that only 36 percent have volunteered in the last year. Additionally, while growing numbers of young people are turning out for presidential elections, very few young people become involved in local and state level races. A key cause of this is that while many young people want to change the world, they have no idea where to start. This is where parents come in. There are many things parents and other adults can do to help teens get involved in their communities and in the political process for the long term. The simplest way to help your teen get involved is to ask. Research has shown that teens who are asked to vote or volunteer are much more likely to do so. By asking your teen to volunteer with you at a local charity or taking your teen with you when you vote this year, you can help him become more comfortable with different forms of civic engagement. Another way to make your teen more comfortable is through information. CIRCLE research has found that most young Americans are misinformed about important aspects of politics and current events. For example, 53 percent are unaware that only citizens can vote in federal elections and only 30 percent can correctly name at least one member of the president’s cabinet. One way parents can keep teens informed is by watching and discussing the news together. To make the process more enjoyable for young people, parents might consider watching shows like Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” or “The Daily Show” along with more conventional news sources. By making these efforts to help young people get involved in the political process this year, parents can show teens the impact that they can make on the future of our nation while fostering a lifelong practice of civic engagement. Mat Anderson is the staff writer and research specialist at The Bridge in Joplin. For more information visit futureparadigm.org. 
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