It is a bromide in a presidential election year to fret that young people will not turn out to vote, and that the election will therefore be dominated — as in so many past years — by wealthy older voters. As thoughtful observers have already pointed out, that notion is — statistically and philosophically — a red herring. Youth ages 18 to 30 appear likely, at least in terms of numbers and passion about issues, to play a larger role in the 2024 election than has been true in elections over the last several decades. Still, rebuilding trust in democracy among youth should be treated as critical this election year.

There is a much more urgent issue to tackle this year than voting participation by young people. The next generation (who, by the way, long ago rejected the “Gen Z” label) does believe that its vote matters. For young people overall,  according to one recent survey from the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, at least 68% of them think their vote counts, but over half (57%) are dubious about democracy itself.

Today’s youngest voters have never experienced democracy and its political process as the opportunity to voice ideas, be heard, learn from different perspectives, and take part in compromise. For their entire lifetimes, they have seen two corporate parties engaged in polarized gridlock, vicious contention, and social media manipulation, all ruled by a four-year cycle that plays out on a Super Bowl-like stage with unreliable outcomes and even, on Jan. 6, physical violence.

No wonder youth aren't inclined to trust democracy, or at least not to believe those of us in older generations who keep telling them it is a great thing and they should participate. Meanwhile, those of us who are older, who have privilege and influence and who experience the world as working for us, cannot understand the perspective of young people growing up in a world that does not reliably support them.

Especially for women, young people of color, and those raised in poverty, it is difficult to imagine that our democracy and government could ever truly work for them. It is no surprise, then, that another recent study from Supermajority found that more than 90% of young women do not believe the government and political system work effectively. For these disenfranchised populations, it is tempting to tap out. Clearly, there is an urgent need to rebuild trust in democracy among youth.

Read the full article about rebuilding young people's trust in democracy by Stephanie J. Hull at The 74.