Young voters have the power to shape the election this year like never before. Whether it be the presidential election or local school board elections, it is important that young people’s voices are heard in 2020. Because of this, Montgomery County Students for Change (MoCo for Change), a student-run organization focused on progressive change, partnered with the Youth Activism Project to roll out the “MoCo to 100” project. The initiative’s goal is to register 100% of eligible seniors in Montgomery County to vote.
MoCo for Change launched the project in a tense political climate. The 2020 election is said by many to possibly be one of the most important elections in people’s lifetimes. Serious matters, such as COVID-19, the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court, racial justice and more, are on the ballot this year.
“This election will not only affect generations to come, but also be a deciding factor in whether we will even have that future, or not,” MoCo for Change Communications Director, Northwest High School sophomore Maahe Kunvar said. “To create that change in our currently failing federal leadership, we began this initiative to inspire students to vote and take part in this election that will affect our generation and hopefully many more generations to come under a prosperous, dextrous federal government and democracy.”
Walter Johnson High School senior Danis Cammett is the president of his school’s chapter of MoCo to 100. He got involved with MoCo for Change last summer, after helping out with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s campaign, where he realized he wanted to get more involved with political and social change. He had to attend a 4-hour training that taught members how to organize and make the goal of registering the entire senior class achievable. The chapter started as just a small group of students who helped register voters, but quickly grew to involve 32 students volunteers.
“I felt proud and amazed that a group of diverse and amazing students could come together and put their mind to something we all believed in. When everyone was joining and the club was taking off it felt like anything was achievable, that my small group of WJ students can reach any goal they are given,” Cammett said.
The project made it easy for students to register to vote. Volunteers first reached out to students over Instagram direct-messaging or through peer connections and asked whether they were registered to vote. They would then send students a link that lets them check their registration status, or select their high school and register to vote.
While only a small portion of this year’s senior class will be 18-years-old by the 2020 election and eligible to cast a ballot, Maryland citizens can register to vote at the age of 16. MoCo to 100 volunteers hope that registering voters young will create a generation of active voters.
“By registering young people to vote, we are hoping to help them access their voice at the ballot box and to help them become more civically engaged citizens overall,” MoCo for Change leader, Walter Johnson sophomore Sourish Dey said.
Young voter turnout is famously low compared to other age demographics, even though young people have the power to completely turn an election. Luckily, statistics have shown that this reputation could be changing. More than 15 million Americans have turned 18 since the 2016 election, and 63% of Americans ages 18-29 say they will “definitely be voting” in the November election, according to a new Harvard Youth Poll.
“A larger and wider electorate pushes our democracy closer to the idea of ‘A More Perfect Union,’” Cammett said. “I want kids our age to be passionate about issues they care about and I want them to be educated about it so they can go out and vote for what they believe in is right.”
Many MCPS seniors will be casting their first ever ballot for the 20202election via mail, drop-box or in-person after being registered by their peers. Young voters have the power to turn an election like they never have before, placing immeasurable power on just a sheet of paper.
Article by Emma Saltzman of Walter Johnson High School
Graphic by Xiomara Choque of Montgomery College