I Can’t Vote—But I Can Still Get Involved and Have a Say in the Election

In May 2022, I felt trapped and helpless. 

Like many other students, I had spent the last two years of school in environments that were constantly changing for safety during a global pandemic. I’d watched the nation reckon with systemic racism. And now, I was sitting in my home listening to devastating news about a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The devastation quickly became clear as each new update named more victims of such a horrible act.

I was 15 when the Robb Elementary School shooting happened. I should have been worrying about studying for tests or who I was going to make plans with after school. But I faced a reality that my generation of students knows all too well: Guns are the number-one killer of our generation. And I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. I had to do something. 

As I looked for a way to get involved, I saw an organization repeatedly mentioned in news coverage: Everytown for Gun Safety. Curious to learn more, I looked up Everytown and learned all about the work it had been doing for years to reduce gun violence. I also learned that the Everytown umbrella included a grassroots network of students who, like me, wanted to join the fight. 

At a time when I felt terrified and powerless in the wake of so much tragedy, Students Demand Action offered me a way to join the movement and do my part to make a difference.

Today, I am much more educated about gun violence and more aware of my surroundings. As a senior in high school in the United States, I am constantly reminded of the threat of gun violence—both in and out of the classroom. Although mass shootings at schools garner media coverage, daily gun violence takes a devastating toll on our communities.

As a student, I continue this work because students like me should not have to be worried that a loud noise near our school is a gunshot. We should not have to hide behind desks in places of learning. We shouldn’t live in fear of going to movie theaters, churches, or concerts. And we shouldn’t have to worry that one of our loved ones will be shot due to reckless handling or insecure storage of firearms.

I refuse to walk away from the more than 120 people killed, over 200 people injured, and countless more people impacted by gun violence every day. I cannot ignore all the people—including myself—who live in fear of having a gun pointed at them. And I am doing everything in my power to ensure that everyone around me is also working to prevent gun violence.

One key way I do that is by getting involved in election work. As of today, I am 17 years old and a permanent resident—meaning I cannot vote.

I am a girl, an immigrant, a student, and a person with basic needs like secure housing and economic security. Every day, I see legislation that has the potential to impact so many aspects of my life. Those bills are passed or denied by representatives in Congress whose election I have no direct vote in. 

That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about, or am not impacted by, what happens in elections. I remember staying up late with friends during the 2020 election when I was 13, watching the electoral map change throughout the evening and refreshing it almost constantly. Throughout the night, we talked about how much our lives would change, regardless of which person would be declared the next president of the United States.

Getting involved in the electoral process and encouraging every single person who can cast a ballot to do so—regardless of whether they share my views or values—is critical.

Working with Students Demand Action has helped me realize that I can make a difference. When people like me encourage voting-eligible peers to register to vote and then show up to cast a ballot, we ensure that the most expansive representation of the population possible is represented at the polls.

By getting involved in the electoral process, we strengthen democracy. We ensure that all the people who might have been dissuaded from voting because they didn’t understand the process have the information they need to confidently show up at the polls. We remind others who don’t think their one ballot makes a difference that their vote has an impact on who represents them—and on who represents us. And we remind others to demand that their representatives listen to their wants and needs.

In July 2024, I joined Everytown for Gun Safety for their Virtual Election Rally for Gun Sense. We rallied with hundreds of people across the country to show voters how to use their voice and votes to:

• Push back on armed extremism;
• Show support for leaders demanding smarter gun laws; and
• Elect women, gun violence survivors, and candidates of color running for office.

I represented Students Demand Action and spoke during the rally, which was incredibly impactful for me. I got to speak to hundreds of people on that call about the experiences of students like me. And I gave advice to students who, like me, can’t vote but want to do everything in their power to make a difference.

In moments like these, we need people working to ensure that everyone around them is engaged.

I know firsthand how distressing it can be when you can’t vote on issues that directly affect you and your loved ones. Take it from me: Your voice and your efforts matter. Those of us who cannot vote should not turn our backs on electoral action. While your vote may not be cast, your voice still counts.