PLATFORM : Rockin’ Young Voters

A little over 20 years ago, civil-rights activists, women’s rights activists and anti-war activists, many of whom were still in their teens, joined together to fight for the right of all young Americans to make a difference in the political process.

That effort, born out of the grass-roots movements of the ‘60s, recognized the importance of expanding the right to vote to millions of young Americans and led to the ratification of the 26th Amendment in 1971 (the last time our Constitution was amended), which lowered the voting age to 18.

Today, although the issues may have changed, the need for young people to influence the political process is in no way diminished. Unfortunately, since 1972, the first year that 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds went to the polls to elect a President, the number of young people who vote has dropped dramatically.

For a democracy to be truly realized, all citizens eligible to vote must exercise their constitutional right. For this reason, until this happens, Rock the Vote is committed to registering America’s youth on college campuses, in high schools and at record stores and concerts.