Get Involved & Make an Impact in 2020 Election

By Meredith Maxwell ’21 & Quinn Lanza ’21

This election year is a big one. As Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden put it, “We’re in a battle for the soul of our nation.” As teenagers, it may feel like we are helpless and forced to sit idly by. But that’s not true!

We have compiled a list of what minors can do to help make an impact in politics. Just scroll to the bottom for an organized list of things to do.

One of the easiest ways you can start to get involved is to turn to social media! There are multiple Instagram accounts with helpful information on political issues. Instagram is a great place to begin educating yourself on issues such as Black Lives Matter, voting, women’s rights, and gun control. You’ve probably heard of the account @studentsforfloyd run by one of our own, ASB President Cleo Riley, who organized logistics for protests and community clean-ups.

However, we know that many of you have already been educating yourself through social media and are eager to do even more.

If you want to get your hands in the dirt and work directly with people, there are so many options! You can sign up for text-banking (which is simply texting on behalf of campaigns and trying to reach out to potential voters), phone-banking (calling people on behalf of campaigns and trying to reach out to potential voters), and postcarding (writing postcards to people in swing states and reminding them about upcoming elections and why they should vote). All of these activities are incredibly rewarding and easy to do.

Finally, two of the most important things you can do are also the easiest. First and foremost PREREGISTER TO VOTE! Whether we realize it or not, not everyone has the right to vote. If you are lucky enough to be given the opportunity to use your voice and influence the country, do it. Elections are often lost or won by slim margins. You must be between the ages of 16-18 to preregister and it’s super easy. (You can even do it through Instagram!) Even though you may not be able to vote this year, it is never too early to prepare for the next election.

Finally, engage your family and friends in debates and discussions. Often, people do not realize the importance of elections. Though it can be scary sometimes to express your political beliefs to other people, it is extremely important to do so. By speaking up you have the power to change minds, and the potential to change the world.

This election season is one like no other. Get up, get involved, and make history. In 30 years when we look back at this time, you want to be able to say that you made a difference.

The following are ways you can get more involved. Check out these pages, websites, and steps you can take to make an impact — starting today!

Explore these Instagram Pages:

@studentsforfloyd

@lateengotv

@soyouwanttotalkabout

@inthistogether_la

@chnge

The best place to sign up for textbanking/phonebanking is to go directly to any politician’s website.

Textbanking (for smaller elections): open progress text

Pre-register to vote: vote.org

Featured image from Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls