The South County Democratic Club
’s latest strategy to engage youth in the democratic process
involves reaching out to teenagers before they can even vote.
The South County Democratic Club’s latest strategy to engage youth in the democratic process involves reaching out to teenagers before they can even vote.
The effort, led by 17-year-old club member Brittany Bach, takes advantage of a state law allowing youths to register prior to reaching the legal voting age of 18. Early registration is allowed as long as the person reaches legal age by the next general election.
“Most people don’t know that they can register before they’re 18,” said Bach, a junior at Live Oak High School. “The events that we do, most of the people that actually stop by are older.”
Bach has run registration booths at GavFest, a community outreach day by Gavilan College, and plans to do the same at this weekend’s Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras and the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
The legality of conducting voter registration in high schools remains in unclear, however, and will likely involve navigating federal and state laws and school district regulations.3
“Right now we’re developing a plan to go to the schools to get them registered,” Bach said of her peers. “We have started the legal process, but we haven’t gotten as far as we would like.”
In the meantime, she and the South County Democratic Club are trying to reach potential young voters through innovative new ways, including a Weblog and events such as carnivals, concerts, and dances.
Bach understands the challenges of raising interest among fellow teenagers.
“Most (youths) aren’t registered to vote because they’ don’t think they can make a difference, or because they don’t think it’s cool,” she said. “We’re planning activities to be more teen-oriented. We want to do activities they’re more interested in.”
Bach and other local party members came up with the idea for early registrations several months ago, during a state Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles.
Mark Zappa, a strategist with the Santa Clara County Republican Party, was wary of voter registration in the schools but encouraged efforts to get more youths involved.
“We currently do not do registration drives in schools,” he said of his party. “We believe people should be 18 when they register to vote… Any effort to get people involved in the voter process is a good thing and I would encourage people to do that.”
Whatever party students join, Bach seems to have a clear understanding of historic trends among young voters and the stakes involved in mobilizing that group.
“They have the worst voter turnout, but they’re one of the biggest voter groups,” Bach said. “Someone could easily win an election if they got the youth vote to turn out. “
Gilroy Dispatch reporter Serdar Tumgoren can be reached at st*******@gi************.com or 847-7109.
