This article was originally published in AARP.
Fred Brownson has spent hours talking to his five grandkids about national issues. He loves listening to their banter and getting their youthful perspectives on all sorts of topics, ranging from student debt to housing costs. His goal is not to sway their political views, but instead to use the conversations to spotlight the importance of showing up on Election Day.
“I emphasize that they might actually live to the 22nd century, and governmental decisions that are being made right now will have an impact on their life going forward,” says Brownson, 66, who works at the Minneapolis Election and Voter Services office.
Older adults like Brownson come out to vote more than any other age group. Nearly two-thirds of the electorate was 50 or older in the 2022 midterm elections, according to data from the Pew Research Center, and 53 percent of the electorate was 50-plus in the last presidential election. For many older voters, showing up to the polls feels like a routine part of being an American citizen.
But that’s not the case for younger generations. While the 2020 presidential election broke records for youth voter turnout, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) estimates that 50 percent of eligible voters between ages 18 and 29 didn’t cast a ballot. Less than a quarter of eligible youth voters voted in the 2022 midterm elections.
For some younger people, the process of voting may be brand new. It’s not yet a habit like it may be for a parent or grandparent with decades of experience. So what’s the best way to get your kids and grandkids to vote — regardless of whom you think they’ll vote for? Here are seven strategies:
1. Share what you know about voting
If you’re a seasoned voter, your knowledge is a powerful tool for helping others understand why this civic duty matters.
Talking about elections and voting can play a pivotal role in whether a young adult goes on to vote. More than one-fifth of young people who didn’t vote in 2022 said that they didn’t have enough information, CIRCLE reports.
“Young people hear about voting and elections from their family more than any other source. Any online source, teachers, friends — family always comes out on top,” says Ruby Belle Booth, a researcher at CIRCLE.
But be strategic about when you share the information.
“Teenagers aren’t going to sit down and talk to you unless they’re compelled to,” says Brownson, whose grandchildren range in age from 16 to 22 years old. “When you’re stuck in the car or at the dinner table, that’s a place they’re captive … for me, those conversations could only happen in that environment.”
2. Approach voting conversations from a place of curiosity
“My biggest piece of advice is not to say, ‘Are you going to vote?’ but to say, ‘What are the things in your community you care about? What are the issues you care about? What are the things you’d like to see change on?’” Booth says.
Brownson likes to use current events as a way to dive into election-related topics and make them more relatable. “If something happened in the news, [I’ll ask], ‘How are they teaching this at school? And what do you guys think?’” he says.
Identify which issues spark the most conversation. Then see how you can connect them to decisions that happen at a governmental level. The goal is to approach every conversation with curiosity and create a safe space for people to share their thoughts, whether or not those match your own ideology. This isn’t the time to push your personal agenda or political beliefs.
“Curiosity will prevent them from just shutting down in the face of a really polarized or political question,” Booth says.
Consider a similar approach when speaking with those who say they don’t plan to vote. You’re likely to get further when you resist reprimanding and instead ask why they decided to opt out, Booth says.
3. Walk through voter registration together
Among the biggest barriers to voting is lack of education. More than 1 in 5 newly eligible voters who hadn’t registered in 2020 said it was because they didn’t know how, according to a survey by CIRCLE. One of the most fundamental actions you can take is to sit down with your adult child or grandchild and walk them through the process directly, Booth says.
“I think about when I got my driver's license, for instance, and my mom helped me fill out the paperwork,” she says. “That kind of administrative support happens often in families.”
Aim to start voter registration conversations well ahead of Election Day. For an 18-year-old — possibly juggling college or a job for the first time — planning can be crucial. Many states don’t offer same-day registration, a detail that’s easy to miss as a first-time voter.
“When you hire someone, you don’t expect them to know everything on the first day,” Booth says. “You onboard them, and we need to do the same thing for young voters to give them the support they actually need to turn out.”
4. Create a voting plan
Once registration is complete, work together to map out a concrete voting plan, says Jeanette Senecal, senior director for mission impact at the League of Women Voters.
“When people have really thought about how they're going to execute their right to vote, they normally do it,” she says.
Walk your adult child or grandchild through all of the available voting options. Does their state offer early or absentee voting? It might work better with their schedule; many young adults say they feel too busy to vote. Even just recording the correct polling hours and location into a digital calendar can save time and reduce stress when Election Day arrives.
5. Draw attention to the impact of local races
Your planning process may include directing a potential younger voter to a few educational resources, like VoteSmart, Ballotpedia or Vote411, so they can learn about the issues. People often feel more empowered to vote when they understand key election topics.
When discussing political races, try not to overlook those on the local level. Local races generally receive less media attention, so getting educated can require a cumbersome search through county, city and district websites. Yet decisions made by local officials often affect day-to-day life, and this can help younger voters see the direct connection between their vote and what’s happening around them.
“A big topic for young people is education and the student loan crisis,” notes Sarah Swanbeck, executive director of the Berkeley Institute for Young Americans. Issues like those may resonate.
You might even consider attending a city council meeting or other local event together where young adults can meet elected officials or current candidates.
“Once you meet people, you see that these are real people who are just members of your community,” Senecal says. “The job of an elected official becomes demystified, and [voting] becomes more personal.”
6. Cultivate a family culture where everyone has a voice
There’s no need to wait — introducing the concept of voting early on can foster a sense of civic responsibility and start building the habit.
“I still remember going to the polls with my family when I was younger, and that [experience] making it clear that this is a normal part of being a citizen in this country,” Swanbeck says.
While all states allow children to accompany their parents at the polls, some have age limits and restrictions on how many children voters may bring. Ask a poll worker or call your local election office to confirm the rules in your state.
Booth also suggests setting up scenarios where your kids can “vote” at home. This could be as simple as voting between pancakes or eggs for breakfast or on two different films for movie night.
“Having opportunities to participate in decision-making, to feel like you have a voice, can have powerful impacts down the line,” Booth says.
7. Try not to get discouraged
The reality is, family is complex. You may face reluctance when trying to discuss voting with your adult children or grandchildren, especially as they grow older. In those moments, it’s important to remind yourself that although difficult conversations can feel uncomfortable, they often create invaluable learning opportunities.
“Sometimes young people just don’t feel like they’re seeing the change that they were promised by voting,” Booth says. “Older generations have experiences that younger ones don’t, and sharing those perspectives and the things that have made them a lifelong voter and believe in the system can be powerful.”