Before I could vote and be involved with advocacy, I was able to pre-register to vote when I was 16 or 17. Through the workshops I attended, I educated young people, specifically high school students, on how to pre-register, and then, later on, you can vote without registering. That workshop taught me a lot, specifically about how young people 18-24 were those least engaged in politics while most people in their 50s and 60s, who are the elderly, were the ones who voted and represented the most.
It makes sense how young people like me don't want to vote because many barriers and obstacles prevent young people from learning or knowing about voting or joining advocacy groups. This is because young people don't have the resources and opportunities due to limits of information, lack of education which my school never taught us, and even social influences where friends or families aren't motivated to vote, which causes young people to be involved with voting.
Something that I've done to express my concern was to lack funding for the library. So, I wrote a letter to a state senate that represents my neighborhood about the urge to advocate for increased funding and support for our library. Since I've used public libraries most of my life not just to read books but also a space for me to study, to network, and attend workshops. Thus, having the government investing in our library is a great investment for our communities and so in the future.
During these workshops, I've met many peers interested in the wonder of elections. Because I am curious and want to be more civically engaged with my community, I spoke to the facilitator and the young people my age. I was even able to find an internship just for me, wanting to be more involved with my community and gain experience of what it feels like to be a youth advocate.
So, I would recommend that young people volunteer in an area they're interested in, join a workshop or internship, or even join an advocacy group like PHE before they turn 18. That helps young people or people in general be more involved with their community. Your voice matters, especially to young people, and voting is one way to be part of your community.