Reflections on Youth Voter Engagement
What Colorado’s young people need to become informed, confident, and consistent participants in civic life
Youth Voter Engagement
September 15 is National Voter Registration Day. Unfortunately, young people consistently have lower turnout rates than other age groups in elections, leading to the underrepresentation of young people’s perspectives in government and politics.
As an organization focused on the health, well-being, and opportunity of the state’s young people and their families, we wanted to explore what we could do as a foundation to encourage youth voter engagement. That’s why we asked Luca Rodriguez, one of two Public Interest Fellows from Colorado College that Caring for Colorado hosted this summer, to delve into the topic. Over Luca’s 10-week fellowship, he conducted research, interviewed experts, and identified opportunities and considerations for Caring for Colorado’s support of youth voter engagement.
We present Luca’s key findings and insights here.
1. Efforts are underway, but implementation and participation gaps remain-Being
Colorado has already implemented several youth voter engagement efforts, including voter registration support in high schools, Secure Automatic Voter Registration at the DMV and through Medicaid, and required civics education for high school graduation. Communities and organizations are also leading coalition building, voter education, leadership initiatives, and face-to-face voter engagement. However, these strategies and systems have not fully translated into consistent youth participation. Young voters still face apathy and self-suppression, uncertainty about how to vote or complete a ballot (which increases the risk that their ballots are rejected), limited practical civic learning resources, and confusion caused by local and state elections occurring on different timelines than general elections.
2. Young voters respond to trust, authenticity, and community
Youth are most motivated by authentic messengers, relatable information, community relationships, and opportunities to create tangible change. Organizations [that Luca interviewed] emphasized that effective outreach is rarely transactional; it is relationship-based and works best when delivered through trusted community networks rather than traditional institutional channels. The importance of accessible and comprehensive information about voting can also not be overstated.
3. Community-based organizations are best positioned to drive engagement
Organizations closest to young people already possess the trust and relationships necessary for successful engagement. Interviewees repeatedly identified community-based organizations as the most effective vehicles for voter education, outreach, leadership development, and long-term civic participation.
4. Philanthropic and infrastructure gaps persist
Youth-serving and community-based organizations also face barriers that limit their ability to consistently engage voters. Some fear being perceived as political or worry that voter engagement could jeopardize their 501(c)(3) status. Stakeholders also noted that stronger voter access systems have sometimes led to an assumption that implementation is already solved, while state and national funders have not consistently prioritized this work. Organizations continue to need community access, transparency, trust-building, sustainable funding, and better coordination to reduce information silos.
Conclusion: Opportunities Moving Forward
For organizations like Caring for Colorado, the strongest opportunities lie in supporting trusted messengers and community-based organizations that already have deep relationships with young people, especially in communities historically underrepresented in civic participation. Rather than focusing solely on registration, investments could strengthen practical civic engagement through voter education, ballot guidance, youth leadership development, cross-field collaboration, and year-round civic learning that helps young people become confident, consistent participants in democracy.
Colorado’s challenge is no longer primarily getting young people registered to vote. The challenge is helping them become informed, confident, and consistent participants in democracy. The most promising investments are those that build trust, strengthen community-based infrastructure, support youth leadership, and create sustainable pathways for lifelong civic engagement. The state’s voter engagement infrastructure doesn’t need an overhaul, but it needs energy and resources to operate effectively.
Luca Rodriguez is a sophomore at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. He served as a Public Interest Fellow at Caring for Colorado in Summer 2026. To read Luca’s reflections on his summer fellowship, click here.
For more information on National Voter Registration Day, including how to register to vote, click here.
Taking Action: Caring for Colorado’s Commitment to Youth Voter Engagement
To put Luca’s insights into action, Caring for Colorado is supporting organizations pursuing the critical work of engaging young voters. We are pleased to announce $30,000 in charitable contributions to three organizations advancing youth civic participation, voter engagement, and leadership development among Colorado’s young people:
- New Era Colorado $10,000
- Mi Familia Vota $10,000
- Young Invincibles $10,000
These contributions recognize the important role these organizations play in helping young people become informed, engaged, and active participants in civic life. They reflect confidence in each organization’s ability to advance its mission in ways that strengthen youth voice, leadership, and participation.