With a 52% youth turnout rate under our belts from the 2008 presidential election, the Millennial generation has proved that we are worth courting, that we have opinions on issues that matter to us, and that we can be agents of change. Interestingly enough, the US isn’t the only country that’s responding to the changing demographics of our world, one in which the number of American Millennial voters is estimated to be between 60 and 75 million. Jordan and Australia are also pushing the youth vote in their respective countries.
Let’s travel nearly 6000 miles to Jordan. In Jordan, 58% of the population is under the age of 25, ensuring that young people have a huge say in the direction of their country when they vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections in November. The government and various groups are doing their part to get out the vote, launching campaigns to educate young people on the voting process and stressing the importance of participation in government. Both the Higher Council for Youth and the All Jordan Youth Commission have plans to directly reach out to at least 4300 people through workshops, seminars, and debates that encourage young people to vote based on candidates’ merits rather than family ties or other social pressures. Like Rock the Vote, Jordan’s civic society is working on increasing youth participation and encouraging informed voting.
If we travel another 9000 miles, we’ll arrive in Australia, one of 32 countries with compulsory voting. This month, the Australian Electoral Commission helped Google create Student Voice, a website which allows school students aged 15-17 to vote in a mock version of the upcoming elections in addition to offering educational resources and competitions. In partnering with Google, Australia is hoping to harness the power of the internet to give unprecedented access to young people on politics, government, and voting in order to better prepare them for their civic duties. As Australian officials work to make young voting more relatable to students, Rock the Vote’s very own Democracy Class is doing the exact same thing in the states but by mixing music and pop culture with information on elections and voting. When Democracy Class comes to your school, we also simulate a mock election with your peers as the candidates and hold a debate on issues you care about. Two initiatives in totally different countries both aim to get young people engaged in the political process early in their lifetimes.
How are the needs of young people in politics similar everywhere? What do you think about the direction of youth voting in America? What are some ways young people can help to get out the vote? What do you think is the best way?
