Beyond the Ballot: Why Youth Commissions Are Essential to Local Democracy

Katelyn C.

Young people are always described as the “future” of democracy. But the problem lies exactly in what may seem like a call to action: they are the “future”. In fact, the youth are often told, directly or not, that their voices only matter later. 

Just like everyone else, teens are affected by local decisions in their daily lives. Even if they can’t vote, they still consistently use city spaces, services, and resources. Local government decisions shape aspects that impact how young people live in their communities. 

While voting certainly matters in maintaining a healthy democracy, it’s not the only way that teens can participate. Youth can attend city meetings, give public comments, volunteer, research issues, and speak with local leaders. Youth commissions make this engagement easier, more accessible, and more organized. 

Youth commissions play a crucial role in assisting civic engagement by giving young people a space to learn about and discuss local issues. They help in connecting local government with its young residents who might not normally attend meetings or be aware of what’s going on in their community. With this, youth commissions turn teen opinions into something that city leaders can actually hear and use.

Although many adults do care about youth issues, they don’t experience them directly. This means that they cannot be completely representative of the problem and therefore can’t effectively create full solutions. When young people are included in the conversation directly, proposed policies are stronger with more specificity. 

Youth don’t need to wait until they are 18 to care about and make a difference in their communities. At the same time, local governments (and federal governments alike) should not wait until then to listen.

Image Credit: BOA Architecture