by Arden Nguyen
Beginning to participate in politics as high school students helps us to become active citizens in the years ahead. But what many fail to realize is that politics is much more than just choosing a party. There are several ways in which teens can become politically active. Since this is an election year, being involved in politics is especially critical. The actions of younger generations have historically been an instrumental force for political change and hopefully will continue to be so.
Voting
Perhaps the most important step towards becoming politically active is registering to vote. Voting is a civic duty fundamental to our democracy that can be exercised both locally and nationally. Many are unaware that voting goes beyond public office; you can vote for legislation too! To cast your vote, find a voting center near you and turn in your ballot there, or fill out a mail-in ballot. Not 18 yet? Once you turn 16, you can pre-register to vote.
Phone banking
Phone banking involves calling a set list of voters to increase voter turnout or to garner support for your preferred candidate. Volunteers will dial a given list of phone numbers and read from a script during the calls, which are usually only a few minutes long.
Canvassing
Canvassing consists of knocking on doors and informing the residents in an area about your candidate. Volunteers will meet up at a given location where they will be given instructions from a field organizer for the campaign. Then they’ll be sent to a designated area (like a neighborhood) to visit the addresses of a list of voters. If the resident is home, volunteers will briefly speak about their candidate but also gather information about the resident’s likelihood of voting for the candidate. If no one is home, volunteers can leave behind fliers or pamphlets.
Signing Petitions
Signing a petition for an issue that you feel strongly about is an easy and quick way to express your political views. Sites like change.org allow you to add your name to online petitions or create your own, donate money and spread the word.
Staying Informed
If you aren’t keeping up with the news on a regular basis, now is the time to start. Read and watch local and national news to stay up to date on day-to-day political occurrences. Know the people who represent you in the government, from your congressional representative to senators to the governor. Make sure you understand political policies and how they affect you and the community as a whole.
