The class of 2024 was not yet in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed them into isolation and online schooling. Since then, these seniors, along with the rest of Gen-Z, have witnessed other major historical events, from Supreme Court decisions impacting reproductive rights and affirmative action to the crisis in the Middle East. To their credit, Gen Z has stepped up, leading advocacy efforts, educating their peers, and voting.
Gen Z was largely responsible for the increase in youth voter turnout in the 2018 and 2022 election cycles. But now, with the 2024 elections just months away, concern has arisen over whether Gen Z's engagement will continue at recent levels. According to the latest Harvard Youth Poll, most young Americans do not believe that their high school education taught and prepared them to understand practical aspects of civic engagement. Ava Rollino, a 17-year-old from New Jersey, shared with us, “The government [is] not doing enough to protect and promote the most important part of democracy: the right to vote. I think if our elected officials, families, and communities encouraged young voters we would see a shift in who is representing us.”
According to the poll results, this decline in voting and civic participation is most apparent among younger Black Americans and Hispanic Americans. If we care about a thriving democracy, we have to care about how each generation is participating in it. Low voter engagement among young people wouldn't just be bad news in 2024, it would exacerbate an existing crisis of trust. Ava, who is a member of Junior State of America, emphasized this lack of belief in government, sharing, “I’m disappointed in democracy. Youth voices are overlooked way too often and what we need as an upcoming generation is not being provided to us.” Thankfully, we know what to do about it.
High school students possess the untapped power to reactivate Gen Z, and subsequently have a tremendous impact on the 2024 election, and every election to follow. Each year, nearly four million students graduate from U.S. high schools, at which point nearly 90% are eligible to register to vote. And yet, less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds are registered nationwide, and even fewer 18-year-olds are on the voter rolls in major cities. For the health of our democracy, this has to change — and it can.
We, the New Voters Collaborative, are leaders from over a dozen nonpartisan organizations across the nation. Each of our organizations work to prepare high school students to participate in elections in different ways, and many of us are members of Gen Z ourselves. This isn't about partisan politics; it's about empowering a new generation to vote. Our approach is pragmatic: target high schools directly. Why? Because 38% of young Americans don't pursue further education, making high schools our last opportunity to reach them in an academic setting.
Our research shows that high school students aren't apathetic; actually quite the opposite, with many serving as volunteers and participating in demonstrations. The problem is they are often overlooked in the electoral process; less than one fifth of young voters have been engaged by any campaign. Civic education is limited, voting laws for first-timers can be confusing, and practical barriers such as lack of transportation or long voting lines tend to discourage potential voters. Even when students are actively searching for ways around these challenges, there are few points of entry in high school curriculum and extracurriculars with which they can politically engage. This leaves first-time voters less likely to make the leap into showing up at the polls without additional intervention. High schools are also underutilized as sites of voter registration, despite existing state statutes supporting nonpartisan registration initiatives.
To make lasting change, many of us at the Collaborative are focused on facilitating peer-to-peer strategies. By developing the leadership skills of high school students, we can empower them to run registration and civic engagement efforts in their schools. High school students can be highly successful at registering their classmates by tapping into existing social networks and school activities. This isn't just efficient and cost effective; it's powerful and sustainable. Research shows that those who vote in their first election, and those who are politically engaged at a young age are likely to remain engaged in future elections, becoming lifelong voters.
Our collective impact is growing. Across our organizations, we've worked with over 1,000 schools and reached hundreds of thousands of students. With over 100 staff members and 600 volunteers, we're expanding our reach to more schools, covering diverse political and geographic landscapes from Maine to Texas to California.
We're not just registering young voters, we're sparking a movement. With the knowledge gained through their participation, we are enabling these students to amplify their impact by influencing their families and communities to vote as well. If we are successful, by the 2024 general election, we will see a surge in young, informed voters making their mark on democracy.
Our message to parents, teachers, and anyone who interacts with high schoolers is this: talk to them about voting. Encourage them to get involved, to understand the issues, and to make their voices heard, at and beyond the ballot box. At the New Voters Collaborative, we welcome all who wish to join this mission. Together, we can amplify the voices of America's youngest voters.
Gen Z deserves more than a passing nod in our political discourse. We're committed to empowering students to ensure they're heard, valued, and engaged. This isn't just about one election; it's about nurturing the next generation of active, informed citizens. A movement is brewing to register every high school student in America. Join us!
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