Malcolm Rivera
Young people are increasingly becoming more interested in politics and are a powerful force that can be a game-changer in political campaigns. However, they are often overlooked in political discourse, and traditional campaign methods no longer work to engage them. Political campaigns can benefit from the enthusiasm and passion of young people, including high schoolers, and must explore new ways to reach them. This includes leveraging social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach young voters, as well as addressing issues that matter to them, such as education, environmental issues, and equal rights. High school students can also be encouraged to participate in the political process through civic or political events, voter registration drives, mock elections, and serving as poll workers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political campaigns targeting high schoolers | High |
| Political awareness among high schoolers | High |
| Political campaigns engaging high schoolers through social media platforms | High |
| Political campaigns using influencers and celebrities to promote civic engagement | High |
| Political campaigns addressing issues that matter to high schoolers | High |
| Political campaigns using catchy slogans, appealing graphics, and data visualizations | High |
| Voter registration drives and informational campaigns about voting dates and procedures | High |
| High schoolers' participation in poll working | High |
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What You'll Learn
Social media campaigns
Social media has transformed politics in the 21st century, with platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok becoming important tools for campaigning and activism. Political campaigns can leverage social media to engage with high schoolers by:
Increasing Accessibility and Mobilization:
Social media platforms provide a low-cost avenue for political campaigns to reach a wide audience, including young people. They offer a space for voices that may have traditionally been silenced or marginalized in the political sphere. By utilizing social media, campaigns can increase their mobilization and engagement, especially with younger voters who are often more active on these platforms.
Encouraging Dialogue and Connection:
Social media allows politicians and campaigns to communicate directly with their constituents, fostering a more personal connection. Live videos and Q&A sessions on platforms like Instagram and Facebook can encourage meaningful conversations with high schoolers, allowing them to ask questions and share opinions. This helps humanize the candidates and makes politics more accessible and relatable to younger audiences.
Providing Political Information:
Social media serves as a significant source of news and political information for many, including high schoolers who may be engaging with politics for the first time. Campaigns can utilize social media to share their platforms, policy positions, and updates. This helps educate and inform young people about the political process and the candidates, enabling them to make more informed decisions when they participate in elections.
Visual Content and Viral Potential:
Visual content, such as short-form videos, infographics, and images, tends to have high engagement and viral potential on social media. Campaigns can utilize this format to deliver their messages in a concise and shareable manner. Off-the-cuff cell phone footage and behind-the-scenes content can also add a layer of authenticity and help build a connection with high schoolers.
Addressing Local Issues:
Social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, can be powerful tools for politicians to address local issues that may not receive coverage from traditional media outlets. By focusing on topics relevant to high schoolers and their communities, campaigns can increase engagement and demonstrate their commitment to addressing local concerns.
Get-Out-the-Vote Initiatives:
Social media can be leveraged as part of get-out-the-vote campaigns to mobilize young people, including high schoolers, and encourage their participation in elections. This can include sharing information about voting processes, providing reminders, and addressing any barriers or concerns that young voters may have.
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Candidate relatability
Relatability is a key aspect of engaging high schoolers in political campaigns. Young voters are passionate about a variety of issues, including education, the environment, equal rights and opportunities, racial and gender equality, and healthcare. Candidates who can demonstrate that they understand and care about these issues will be more successful in engaging this demographic.
One way to achieve this is by utilizing social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, which are popular among Gen Z. By creating engaging and informative content, campaigns can effectively communicate with younger audiences in a language they understand. For example, Georgia's Secretary of State hosted a Secure the Vote TikTok challenge, encouraging young people to create videos educating their peers about the state's new secure paper ballot system. Similarly, during his campaign, President Obama effectively utilized social media platforms to galvanize youth support.
In addition to social media, candidates can also connect with high schoolers by attending events and forums at schools and universities. This provides an opportunity for real-time interactions and allows candidates to answer questions and address issues that directly affect young people. For instance, one candidate who spoke at several high schools met students who cared about gun control and abortion rights and felt that their voices were being heard.
By combining a strong social media presence with in-person interactions, candidates can demonstrate their relatability to high schoolers and engage their enthusiasm and passion as a valuable resource in elections.
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Voter registration drives
Political campaigns can tap into this passion and engage high schoolers by organizing voter registration drives in schools. These drives can be coupled with educational initiatives to inform students about the voting process, their voting rights, and the issues at stake in the election. This strategy was employed by Georgia's Secretary of State, who hosted a Secure the Vote TikTok challenge to encourage youth to create videos educating their peers about Georgia's new secure paper ballot system.
Additionally, campaigns can encourage high school students to serve as poll workers. This not only provides them with an opportunity to learn about the electoral process firsthand but also addresses the need for younger, technologically-savvy poll workers. High school students stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic to fill this role, and their contributions were invaluable in ensuring safe and efficient elections.
To further encourage participation, campaigns can offer stipends to high school poll workers, as some states already do. This not only incentivizes students to get involved but also ensures that they feel valued for their contributions.
By involving high schoolers in voter registration drives and poll worker roles, political campaigns can tap into a valuable source of enthusiasm and passion. This strategy can drive followers and supporters to a particular candidate and ultimately secure a victory, as younger voters have the potential to be a game-changer in tight races.
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School clubs
- Debate Clubs: Joining a debate club helps students learn how to take positions on topical issues and support their arguments with detailed evidence. They delve into ethics, philosophy, and the logistical implications of policies, fostering an understanding of different perspectives. Additionally, debate clubs help students improve their argumentative and communication skills, as well as their ability to research and evaluate complex subjects.
- Political Clubs: These clubs can be non-partisan or aligned with specific political ideologies, depending on the interests of the students. They provide a platform for critical thinking, fostering an understanding of different viewpoints, and help students develop debate and public speaking skills. Political clubs can also host guest speakers, plan voter registration drives, and engage in mock elections, providing a fun and educational way to explore the electoral process.
- Model Government Clubs: Model United Nations (Model UN) and Model Congress clubs allow students to simulate UN proceedings and congressional conferences. Participants develop skills in diplomacy, negotiation, and public speaking. They discuss and debate global issues, work collaboratively to draft resolutions, and gain insight into international relations and politics.
- Student Government or Council: Joining their high school's student government or council gives students firsthand experience in leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving. They learn to collaborate with peers, address school-wide concerns, and communicate effectively with faculty and administrators. This experience can also strengthen college applications and resumes, demonstrating a commitment to making a positive impact in their community.
By participating in these school clubs, high schoolers can develop valuable skills such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking. They can also explore their political interests, engage with their community, and make informed decisions, potentially influencing their future career paths in politics or public service.
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Youth summits
One successful example of a youth summit is the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) organized by the Yolo County, California Elections Office in partnership with local activist groups. This annual event invites high school students to engage in political discussions with elected officials, fostering a dialogue between the younger generation and those in power. Other examples include the virtual voter engagement summit in Iowa, where election officials informed young and first-time voters about safe voting practices during the pandemic, and the Youth Engagement Summit in Yolo County, where students interacted with elected officials via Zoom.
When organizing youth summits, it is essential to consider the topics that are relevant and appealing to high schoolers. These may include issues such as gun control, abortion rights, social justice, human rights, or local community initiatives. By addressing these subjects, youth summits can empower young people to understand their ability to drive change and make a difference in their communities. Additionally, providing opportunities for students to interact directly with politicians and decision-makers can help bridge the gap between generations and encourage ongoing civic engagement.
To promote participation in youth summits, political campaigns can utilize various marketing channels, including social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. These platforms are widely used by Gen Z and provide an effective avenue to reach and engage young audiences. Campaigns can also collaborate with schools, youth organizations, and community groups to spread awareness about the summits and encourage high schoolers to attend and actively participate.
By incorporating youth summits into their strategies, political campaigns can effectively engage high schoolers, fostering their interest in politics and empowering them to become active participants in shaping their communities and the broader political landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
High schoolers are the future leaders of tomorrow, yet they are often overlooked in political discourse. With a low voter turnout amongst young voters, it is crucial to implement innovative strategies to engage and empower this demographic. Young voters can be a game-changer in political campaigns.
Political campaigns can engage high schoolers by creating a unique identity that reflects the spirit of the campaign, along with the issues and values that the candidate represents. Political campaigns can also engage high schoolers by leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to reach young voters. By producing engaging and informative content, political campaigns can effectively communicate with younger audiences in a language they understand.
High schoolers can get involved in political campaigns by creating their own political groups or clubs in high school. They can also look for opportunities in their local communities, such as internships in their town's mayoral office or youth representative positions on the City Council. High schoolers can also get involved in political campaigns by volunteering as poll workers on Election Day.
Engaging high schoolers in political campaigns can be challenging because traditional campaign methods no longer work with younger voters. Political campaigns must explore new ways to reach young voters, such as using social media and creating relatable content. Additionally, high schoolers may not be old enough to vote, so political campaigns must find other ways to engage them, such as by addressing issues that matter to young people and creating campaign materials that stand out, such as catchy slogans and appealing graphics.
