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| Source: Center for Tech and Civic Life |
By Sam Piha
The 2026 election offers a number of opportunities to engage youth people regardless of age. But these opportunities require input from youth, organizing and planning- so start program planning early. There is no better time for youth to be involved in making a change through the ballot box. We can frame these efforts as “meaningful participation,” “civic engagement,” “youth leadership” or “community service.”
“Voting is a fundamental act of civic participation through which young people contribute to democracy. While it’s just one of many ways to engage in civic life, it is a powerful way for young people to make their voices heard and to have an impact on issues that affect them.” – Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)
There are a number of organizations and initiatives that have designed curriculums, program tools and other materials to assist afterschool providers in their efforts to engage youth in the 2026 elections.
“’The afterschool field is an essential partner in ensuring that all children have the ability to participate in immersive, relevant, and hands-on civic engagement opportunities.’ Not only are civic engagement strategies participatory strategies, they contribute to the positive development of youth and the health of our democracy.” – Afterschool Alliance
More information and resources can be found in our briefing paper, How Afterschool Programs Can Promote Civic Engagement and the Youth Vote in 2024. This paper was developed to encourage youth engagement in the 2024 election. The paper reviews and recommends a number of actions that you can utilize in your program.
“4 million Americans turn 18 every year, but we estimate fewer than 30% are registered to vote.” – The Civics Center
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| Source: CIRCLE |
WAYS YOUTH UNDER 18 CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ELECTIONS
“Our youth feel that their voice matters even if they cannot vote.” - John Fuentes, Associate Director, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR)
According to CIRCLE in Growing Voters: 18 Ways Youth Under 18 Can Contribute to Elections, “There are countless ways for young people under 18 to participate in democracy. These contributions can occur in a range of settings and have a wide-reaching influence. These ways of engaging are steps on a path to growing as a future voter and to help grow voters in your community:
- Support Your Family & Friends' Participation by asking them if they are eligible and registered to vote, and if necessary, bring them information to help them register. If they’re not eligible, ask them how they are going to participate
- Help friends and family find reliable information about the election, the candidates, and important issues that they care about
- Watch and discuss a local or national debate/forum with your family and friends
- Organize or support conversations at school about elections and voting
- Bring the Teaching for Democracy Alliance checklist or commitment to school leaders and work with them to make a plan to support student learning
Uplift Stories & Issues You Care About
- Do research on an issue/policy you’re interested in to find reliable information on the candidates’ stance on the issue, and then share your viewpoint with those who can vote
- Fact check your research and then create media (e.g. images, videos, music) about candidates or issues you’re interested in and share them with others
- Evaluate a range of news media coverage of the issues and candidates to understand how journalists are covering the election
- Contact local media outlets about the issues you care about and offer to share your opinions and insights
- Create media about the people and issues in a community that has few local media outlets or that you think hasn’t been portrayed accurately in election coverage
- Tell stories about how youth of all ages—especially those from communities of color—are engaging in the election and share it with news organizations and social media so that a wider diversity of young people are better represented
Be a Part of the Process
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| Source: ED Week |
- Find out if you can work at the polls on Election Day—many states allow 16- and 17-year-olds to do it!
- Work with a local organization that is registering others to vote
- Design posters with key information about how, when and where to vote, and put them up at school and in your community
- Send your friends and family reminders of when and where to vote on Election Day—even drive them if they need a ride!”
