Diane Robinson’s The Young Vote is a clear and present understanding of how the younger voter population of the U.S., 18-29 years old, could make a profound difference in the country’s elections by voting. Voter suppression laws and many other odd restrictions are rapidly being pushed in place to dissuade this segment of the population’s civil right to vote. Of course, it is only a matter of time before their vote will count, perhaps even change the course of democracy. Yet, it takes outspoken, driven, and razor-focused citizens to encourage their peers to vote — a task that’s never easy, no matter the person, issue, or commitment.
In 1971 the voting age was changed to 18, the 26th amendment. However, 18 to 29-year-olds have consistently had the lowest voter turnout since this amendment was enacted. They make up less than 40 percent of the vote. To use this precious knowledge to create change, a campaign by young people and those too young to vote but care was outlined in 2020 to get them into the voting booth. Factors motivating this movement include the Parkland School shootings, the Black Lives Matter movement, changing primaries to all voters as Open Primaries, and the murder of Breonna Taylor. Of course, these are just some of the many incidents and situations that Generation Z and millennials have witnessed changing their belief systems in democracy. As an independent voter unaffiliated with a party, “you are treated like a second-class citizen.”
“…the younger voter population of the U.S., 18-29 years old, could make a profound difference in the country’s elections by voting.”
The Young Vote considers the impact of this voting population actually voting. In Los Angeles, Orlando, Dallas, and Louisville, Robinson follows the outcome of activists Sophia DeLoretto-Chudy, Ariana Tulay, Liz Magallanes, Elena Ashburn, Dariel Cruz Rodriguez, and Jeremy Gruber to push voting and open primaries. The filmmaker makes all this information extremely well-organized with a lot of information on the screen, provided through interviews, archival footage, images, and videos, all edited and mixed well. It all contributes to the vibe, the feeling of a movement that is taking place but may not yet be realized.
Although the 2020 presidential election outcome proved positive, others elected in states where gerrymandering and questionable polling location closures did not. Yet, improvements for those disabled to vote online in limited locations did show progress. However, the work is far from over, especially when the John Lewis Voting Rights Amendment to allow for fair and just voting for all did not pass the Senate even though it did in the House. Why are we still hand-counting votes in a technologically advanced age? Why are independents unable to vote in primaries? Does voter turnout measure the health of a democracy? Why is voting surrounded by toxicity and discounted? What does the electoral college mean?
The answers to these questions and much more are what The Young Vote deciphers to the core, focusing on the massive disconnect between citizens and elections. Meaningful change happens, and there are plenty of positive examples of this. However, Robinson’s most crucial point is that voting needs to happen now, not in 25 years, when it could be too late.
For more information, visit The Young Vote official website.
"…voting needs to happen now, not in 25 years..."
