Posts Tagged: civic engagement
Young Voters Surge at the Polls Across the Nation
WASHINGTON Young people (18-29) voted in record numbers in the 2018 midterms, and tipped the scales in crucial races in a year of narrow margins, according to a new report from URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, “The Young People’s Election: Casting Votes. Building Power.” Highlights include: Young people registered to vote at record rates with early voting for young adults surging 188 percent since the 2014 midterm elections. Nationally, voters aged 18 to 39 tripled their early voting rate since 2014; in Texas and Georgia, the number of early young voters doubled from 2014. One-third (31%) of young people (18-29) turned out to vote in the 2018 midterm election, up from 21% in 2014, representing the highest level of participation among youth in the past quarter-century. “The 2018… Read more »
REPORT: URGE Organizers Contribute to “Youth Wave” in 2018 Midterms
Download this new report from URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity: “The Young People’s Election: Casting Votes. Building Power. As the dust settles on the 2018 midterm elections, there’s no question that young people had an impact. One-third (31%) of young people (18-29) turned out to vote in the 2018 midterm election, up from 21% in 2014, representing the highest level of participation among youth in the past quarter-century. In a year of narrow margins, young people (18-29) tipped the scales and used their voices and votes to build power and address the issues that matter most to them. The 2018 midterm election victory belongs to the organizers- to the young people and people of color who, through grit, gumption, and guts, registered and turned out young and new voters… Read more »
Alabama Amendment 2 and Other Trigger Bans: A Poem
They’re coming They’ll say they don’t want to control our bodies They just want to protect the innocent The pure, the precious, the untouched, unborn The hardworking, the virtuous, the God-fearing men They’re here, If they’re “woke” they’ll preach protection But he calls my “protection” “abortion-inducing pills” He who lays the law of the land, the law of my body Spits out the words like they are venom Calling our trauma “a joke, a farce” Commanding a gold star commendation From our ever faithful commander-in-chief But how did it come to this? They’ve always been this way, Preaching “abstain” From such a young age, Don’t distract him! His natural male urges Are pushing too hard against his zipper of self control “He doesn’t know any better, You know boys will… Read more »
Voting Obstacles Then and Now
Social media outlets have become major instruments to explore people’s deepest thoughts during this election cycle. Many people, some of them trolls, utilize social media as a mic to air out personal feelings about the election, whether they are positive or negative (which most of them are). Throughout the election cycle, there have been discuss over the voting obstacles that various groups of people face across the nation. One thing that has stood out is the idea of voter suppression among people of color and other members of marginalized groups. Concepts, such as this one, are quite familiar, especially during the start of the Jim Crow era where black men were granted the right to vote through the passage of the 15th amendment. However, we all know that just because a law says… Read more »
Sooner Rather than Later: Your Guide to Early Voting
The horse is dead. It has not only been beaten to death but rather beaten, revived, and then beaten again. And that horse is people telling you to vote. Yet, even though the horse no longer exists it leaves in its afterlife a new horse, early voting. While the feeling of voting on the ever-exciting Election Day can perhaps never be replicated it is important to acknowledge the many downfalls to waiting until November 8th to vote. There are always the possible accidental flat tires or sick days which could prevent you from voting but there are also the possible restrictions imposed by nasty voter id laws that could impact you on the big day. Nothing would be more annoying and possibly devastating than standing in the huge lines at… Read more »
Fighting the Lazy Millennial Myth
Being a politically involved and concerned millennial is hard when older generations do nothing but criticize your generation for being lazy, having a short attention span, being addicted to technology, or being non-committal. Constantly hearing that your generation falls short of the mark adds a whole new challenge for progressive millennials in conservative areas who are trying to make long-lasting change. The best way to fight the feeling of disenfranchisement is to connect and build teams with other millennials who are committed to making a difference. I got that refreshing feeling yesterday at URGE’s Kansas Advocacy Day. Not only did we get the chance to work with other college students, we also worked with and got support from older, concerned community members. Unfortunately, not everyone can make the time to… Read more »
The 2014 Election: Your How-To Guide
Happy Election Day, folks! It’s time to head to the polls and do your civic duty for the good ol’ U S of A. If you weren’t planning on voting, we explain a little more why it’s so important that young people vote. If you’re still a little unsure, or maybe you’ve already decided to vote, we detail just how easy it is. Make sure to share this with your friends, family and peers to spread the word: our votes matter, but in order for them to actually make an impact, we need to actually vote! Why you should vote? But I really don’t care… I don’t have to vote, right? Millennials often get a bad reputation for being “lazy” and “uncaring.” Older generations love to say that we’re apathetic… Read more »
Disenfranchisement, A Little Bit Bigger in Texas
The saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, including our bigots at the capitol. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about Southern comfort and hospitality, but Texas’ new voting law isn’t so comforting. The voting ID law passed simply asks for identification before being allowed to vote. Besides of course excluding immigrants who lack these documents and senior citizens who can’t always find the means to have updated identification–the ramifications of this bill now targets Texas women and trans folks.
