Youth voters break records in 2020 election

Jan. 20, 2021

Arizona Center for Empowerment

Guest host, Jose Cardenas talks with Stephanie Maldonado, the Campaign Director at the Arizona Center for Empowerment. Arizona Center for Empowerment is a youth-led organization. Maldonado talks about the campaign the Arizona Center for Empowerment did to register thousands to vote here in AZ. They introduced issues important to them, shared messages for future young voters, created motivation to be active in the process of moving forward, and more.

Maldonado says although the youth showed up and voted it wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of other youth. Arizona Center for Empowerment went out into the community and visited universities, high schools, community colleges, and even supermarkets where they helped register the community to vote. Maldonado says they were able to register thousands of young voters.

Young Voters

They also asked young voters what was important to them and if they felt they were represented. Maldonado says education, access to health care, environmental, and immigration were issues that drove the youth to vote. They also discuss whether this trend of youth voting will continue in the future. Maldonado talks about how this was a different year and how that influenced the young voters. Maldonado says this election is historic in itself, with a woman of color being elected Vice President.

Like many others, Arizona Center for Empowerment had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and take their efforts home with them. They discuss how they transitioned and adapted to a pandemic by targeting youth with ads online using social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.