Empowering the Next Generation: Voting Rights in New York
By Linnea Block, Sienna Knight, Emma Post, and Max Szuchman
Have you ever wanted to make a change in your community or have your voice heard, but felt that your age might hold you back? As part of a youth-driven initiative, we are working to change that.
We are Linnea Block, Sienna Knight, Emma Post, and Max Szuchman, four students at Mamaroneck High School in New York. We are members of the Original Civic Research and Action (OCRA) program, a four-year course where students identify challenges in local government and community efforts, and work toward solutions. For our project, we decided to focus on the lack of youth and Hispanic voter engagement and efficacy in Mamaroneck, a community with a significant Hispanic population.
During freshman year, we canvassed for local political candidates in Mamaroneck and discovered that many members of this community lacked information about local candidates, election dates, and critical issues that directly impacted them. Busy lives and multiple jobs often limited their ability to engage in the political process. These circumstances are frustrating, as they have unfairly impacted the community members’ representation and limited their ability to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
To increase Hispanic voter participation, we led bi-monthly workshops to educate people about local elections and organized voter registration drives at community centers, schools, and local events. As the project progressed, we were inspired by the strong turnout and enthusiasm for learning about and engaging in the political process. This taught us the power of collective action and the impact of showing up for our community. Seeing people become more confident in navigating elections and eager to engage in the political process showed us how small, consistent efforts can drive meaningful change. We learned to listen to the concerns of our community and adapt our approach to meet their needs, strengthening our teamwork and deepening our connection to the people we served. This experience reinforced our belief in the importance of civic engagement and showed us that by working together, we can empower individuals and build a stronger, more informed community.
Later, we realized this issue extended beyond the Hispanic community: it affected us as young people, the future of this country. With voter turnout at historically low levels, we recognized the critical need for youth engagement. Research shows that early involvement in the political process, whether through voting or learning about candidates, increases the likelihood of lifelong civic participation.
After learning about a bill introduced in New York by Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and carried by New York State Senator Jamaal Bailey, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the time of the general election, we saw an opportunity to further our efforts in engaging youth.
Similar laws are already in place in 20 states, including Maine and Kentucky, showing that the issue is not split on partisan lines. In a state as blue as New York, the real competition lies in the primary; when the general election comes along, the decision is often already made. This amendment would allow for youth to have a say in the candidates they would be voting for come November.
However, the bill introduced had a flaw: it was not constitutional. Technically, under the New York State Constitution, a person must be 18 years of age to vote in an election, so, working with election lawyer Deborah Porder and Assemblywoman Rozic, we redrafted the bill so that it would amend the New York State Constitution, allowing for 17-year-olds to vote in a primary election if they are 18 by the general election date.
Now, we are focused on getting the new version introduced yet again into the Assembly and Senate, and hopefully passed. We are optimistic about the progress and impact this amendment could have.
Working with YVote, we are calling on the public and youth to do their civic diligence and help spread the message to pass this bill, and inspire the future generations of voters to engage and let their voices be heard. So call your local representatives, organize petitions, and spread the word out so we can increase voter turnout. With your help, we can change how elections and democracy work in New York State.