Cranking up the youth vote: register when you’re 16

The Young Progressives Demanding Action is an organization based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Part of its mission is to get young people involved in progressive politics at the local and national levels.

This month, the group held its first-ever “People to the Polls” event at the Capitol with live entertainment and free food to encourage people to vote.

Group members also encouraged participants to take advantage of the state’s early voting and same-day registration programs held at Honolulu Hale.

Member Will Caron said that the way to get young voters to the polls is to speak about issues they care about, such as universal healthcare and tuition-free college.

“To try to overcome apathy we have to make it clear to people in terms that they understand that the only way that they’re going to have a government that represents their values is if they participate,” Caron said.