Young voters are, and have always had some of the lowest voting turnouts in elections. This year that number was only 47 percent of youth coming out to vote in the presidential election.

I am considering many things when I head to the polls for midterms; causes that I was not old enough to cast a ballot for come to the forefront. Marching for gun control and women’s rights were things I couldn’t do then.

I realized then, my hands covered in paint and my sleeves wet, that it was bigger than my family — this apathy cut across cultures, backgrounds and generations.

Penn Libraries Civic Engagement Curator Samantha Hill recently hosted young activists from the organization #VoteThatJawn at the Kislak Center, where they responded to historical materials through the lens of poetry.

Last summer, Vinny Varone attended a civic engagement panel at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia. There were a few cops, a leader from WHYY, and some students. One young boy went up to ask this question: "So my brother got shot two weeks ago while he was playing basketball; how do we make this stop in my neighborhood?" 

Each Saturday, during the hectic presidential election season, I walked up to hundreds of doors. Some were cracked open, vacant, others slammed in my face, yet some were home to listening ears. I was there to talk about voting, to remind people, to explain ballots, and to answer questions. But the truth is, I ended up learning more than I ever expected. Soon, I was collecting stories, immigrants, citizens, voters, and non-voters alike, all had one thing in common on the doors

In a constantly evolving world, and in our democracy where every voice matters, young voters stand at the forefront of change. To inspire this demographic to engage in the electoral process, it is passionate and talented activists like Sarah-Julia Marion who harness the power of visual storytelling, which acts as a catalyst for conversation and action amongst the youth. Going beyond traditional means to underscore the vital importance of voting, her work closes the gap betwee

“[Voting is] not something that's taught and it’s such an important process that impacts the rest of our lives. If you don't teach us now in high school… that's why we're not voting until we hit, maybe, 30… Then people are still more likely to just only vote for the president or vote for whoever they see on mainstream media. … That's why we try to [educate] because there's so much wrong with the systems that impact young people every day.”

The coolest thing about Ceci Schleinitz--among many cool things--is that she gets to mentor students who are just a few years younger than she. So, she’s like the cool aunt who is also wise and strict. After the election ends, she says,  it’s easy to sit back and think that the work is over. But think again. Because sometimes the greatest impact happens beyond the ballot. Sometimes, it’s those moments of quiet when young people discover the power of voting for the first time.

Was it the loss of his grandmother, or his curiosity, that led him to become the president of the University Park Undergraduate Association, the student representative to the Borough of State College’s City Council, and the chair of the Committee on Governmental and Community Relations? For Zion Sykes, the answer isn’t as simple as either/or—it’s both. 

Deja Kilgore sits across from me at Philadelphia City Hall, leaning in with a quiet confidence, poised for our conversation.

Eight University of Pennsylvania students who attended Trend that Jawn offered their reflections from the evening.

At their annual event, #VoteThatJawn encourages young people to register and vote!