By Salma EL Amrani, InDepthNH.org

As the historic 2024 presidential election draws closer, young people are beginning to find themselves grappling with the question of whether they should, or want to, vote. Many of them are either in college or working, and they may not find the time or energy to register to vote or even go to the polling tables. Maybe they don’t think that it matters, that their voices won’t be heard. But voting matters so much. This presidential election is so integral for the future of America, and as the younger generation inherits the country and the larger world, their voices will matter. And they need to take action to make sure that the older generation hears them.

It is very easy to register to vote in New Hampshire. An adult 18 years or older can register to vote before the deadline or register and vote at the polls on Election Day. They must fill out a Voter Registration Form. People must also provide proof of U.S. citizenship like a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or naturalization papers; their identity, usually provided by a driver’s license, and proof of NH residence with the current address listed, or a note signed by a New Hampshire school official. If people are unable to vote in person, they may request an absentee ballot. If they qualify, they must complete the application and turn it into their town clerk. Official voter and voter registration information is listed on the NH Secretary of State website.

Voter education is a key tool to inform and promote young people to register and vote at the polls. College campuses are taking a big initiative in getting their students to vote via flyers, social media, and events. At Southern New Hampshire University, the Chandler Center, the Community and Civic Engagement Office, facilitates voter education to get students committed to voting. The Chandler Center is nonpartisan, so they cannot promote or invite specific candidates from political parties to come to campus.

The Civic Engagement Committee, led by Chandler Center student workers, takes charge of engaging the rest of campus with voting. Most students on campus are interested in voting, but they don’t know how to register or where they’re able to vote. The Chandler Center makes sure that all this information is easily accessible to students.

The office even works with town officials where the school is located to give campus residents the opportunity to vote away from their hometowns. SNHU sits on the border between Manchester and Hooksett, so whichever residence hall students live in determines which town they can register to vote in. Kingston Hall is in a unique position because it is the only hall directly on the border, so its room numbers determine whether the students can register in either Manchester or Hooksett. They also provide information about voting requirements, registration, and free rides to the polls.

In addition to flyers, the office also provides A-frames around campus, stickers, enamel pins, and other accessories and information to hand to students. College campuses are also making it their mission to ensure that young people can understand the state and local policies and find their voice for things that they are passionate about.

Voting can even give young people a stepping stone in political and civic engagement. Even if they never decide to make a career out of politics, they are encouraged to continue to advocate for themselves or others or volunteer with community organizations. Small things like posting voting information on their personal social media or word of mouth are taking an active role. It drives their political and civic engagement up more than the few times they vote in a national election. Besides voting, young people are using their voices to create discourse over policies they are passionate about. They are petitioning, protesting and using social media to reach millions of people around the country and world.

Since 2020, millions of young people (Gen Z and Millennials) have voted in person or by absentee ballot, and it’s only going up now. It should continue to rise, especially by November’s election. Young people offer so much diversity and new perspectives to America’s political climate. Across the country, many are already using their voices to advocate for change, and voting is an integral part of that activism. Not only should information be provided to young people, but they also should be supported and be encouraging each other to vote in the upcoming elections.

Salma EL Amrani is an Intern at InDepthNH.org. She is a Junior at Southern New Hampshire University, majoring in History and minoring in Creative Writing. On campus, she is the Secretary of the Creative Writing Club. She also works as a tutor and a coordinator at the Chandler Center on campus.