Sharpstown International School

Civic Engagement
2nd period

Gloria Gonzalez

The millennial generation throughout the years, has been the generation with the lowest a
voter turnout. Millennials although they are the largest generation, surpassing baby boomers,
they have been the least politically involved. Being born within the 1980s to 2000s, millennials
have been known on being as the most diverse and liberal generation of its time. Fifty-six
percent of millennials would rather see a democrat as president than a republican seeing that
republicans do have a more conservative view point within politics. That being said, millennials
are least likely to vote in midterm elections that general elections, in 2008 millennials voter
outcome was 51% however during the midterm election in 2006 it was 25%: that is almost half
of voters not showing up to the polls. According to the data, baby boomers, those born after
WWII have the largest number of voters in both midterm and presidential elections. Many people
believed that this generation of millennials need to be civically educated, due to their high
amount of apathy when it comes to voting. Furthermore, although majority of teens and young
adults are well aware of some current issues, many do not act on it and thats the issue. Various
teen do not know how exactly the government work, many believe that the president is the most
important part of the branches however, millennials lack to acknowledge the power that congress
obtains but if they are told that congress holds a lot of power and that their term limits are not
limited, change could be brought. Finally, once majority of todays teens get educated on who
makes their laws, the process, and what laws will be established the civic engagement within
millennials will increase.
Although millennials have lacked voter turnouts, they did make an impact in the 2008
and 2012 election when president Barrack Obama was running for office. In 2012, 67% of young
voters had voted for Obama, thus making a huge impacts on getting him elected a second and
first term. Additionally, millennials are the most diverse and liberal, this generation is for gay

rights, for the LGBTQ community, legalization of cannabis, and for immigration rights. This
generation is known to be the most socially aware, the impact that this generation would be able
to make is massive however, we need to get as many young voters out to the polls: not just for
presidential elections but for local and state elections. If we get majority of millennials to go out
and vote there would be social change for the greater good.

When the millennials dont go out and exercise their right to vote, baby boomers have a
much larger voice. In the graph displayed above, baby boomers have a turnout of 70% which is a
huge percentage meaning that they vote for things that they agree with. Baby boomers are

typically conservative meaning that they most often are against things such as LGBTQ rights and
immigration rights. Seeing that many of the baby boomer generation was born after 1946,
causing for many of these people to have a more conservative view. Furthermore, in states like
Texas where citizens are predominantly Republican and conservative, white elderly voters are
those that show up to the polls. This has cause for various things to pass and fail, for example the
Immigration and Nationality Act in where many minorities are deported for small crimes such as
running a red light or stop sign. This act effects many undocumented immigrants and their
families, most especially in Houston where almost half of the population is Latino. Addition the
HERO act, Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, did not pass in the 2012 election: this policy
prohibited discrimination of any sort. However, the outcomes could have been different
especially if many of our millennials came to the poll, if they had the ability to change the
elections of 2008 and 2012 then they would be able to reshape their communities and their states.

Although voting is a process, it is a privilege that many people in the US have, many do
not take advantage of the right they are given from birth. Currently, about sixty percent of
eligible vote during presidential elections and forty percent during midterm elections. The goal is
to have people see local elections more important, seeing that those are the elections that impact
the community directly. Many believe that electing the leader of this country is immensely
important, however that is only one part of the government. If everyone goes out and elects a
democratic president but doesnt even go vote for their congress members and allows for baby
boomers to cast their vote, then we would have a Republican congress thus causing a gridlock
within our government resulting in hardly any laws being passed.
The plan for my capstone in order to increase the voter outcome for this upcoming
election, is to make this generation socially aware. Making sure that they know their options and
how exactly they will be able to impact the upcoming election. One of the strategies that I will be

using is, having a presentation to those who are able to vote and those who cannot. This
presentation will talk about the basics: who can you vote for and how? Additionally, it will have
a few domestics issues that the city of Houston has faced and how those issues affect us.
Additionally, a registration drive will take place in where student have the opportunity to go and
get registered. As seen on the graph above, Texas has a low amount of voter turnouts which can
be changed if Texans can get educated and civically engaged with their cities and communities.
In a hypothetical scenario, if majority of the millennials registered to vote in Texas then Texas
could even become a blue state seeing that we are the most liberal. Electing senators, mayors,
governors and state representatives that are democrats could change this State, the country, and
our communities.
Overall, millennials have outnumbered baby boomers meaning that our generation is now
greater. This generation being the most liberal would be able to have the greatest impact if they
are socially aware of the outcomes that their votes can have. Furthermore, any other legislations
such rights for immigrants and LGBTQ community would allow for this country to truly advance
socially. Although voter outcome for younger voters has been low, it is hoped that in this
upcoming election, more 18 to 24 year olds would come out and vote and actually make a
difference this election year, and on the upcoming elections years. It is understood that the stakes
are high for this presidential election, however everyone should pay close attention every year
when politicians run for a position. A mass change would be powerful and the goal is to make
sure that people are aware of the power that they obtain.

September 2, 2016

Sharpstown International School

8330 Triola Ln, Houston, TX 77036

Dear Professor Deborah Andrepoint,

The topic that I have chosen for my capstone project is the civic engagement
within the millennial generation. Throughout the years this generation has had the lowest amount
of registered voters who actually go out and vote and I aspire to change that. During the summer
I attended a program at Rice University in where they taught many teens from a Hispanic
background how they can be a change in their community. I learned that even though Latinos
make up about half of the populations in Houston, we are the most under represented. We have
had laws and programs implemented that affect many families such as the 287(g) program,
where officers are able to deport an undocumented individual for a simple traffic stop. A program
in where HPD and ICE partner up and are allowed to make such a negative impact on many
families by having their basic right of seeing their family being stripped from them. This inspired
me because most often the ones that go to the polls and choose a sheriff like Ron Hickman are
those republican baby boomers who know the power that their votes have. Thus, I would like to

have millennials know the power that their votes contain because they could have the ability to
stop this program by just showing up to the polls.

I will be researching about the way that the government works and what politicians can
get elected by the people. Furthermore I will conduct a presentation in where many of my class
seniors who are eligible to vote will get registered. The reason why would be because there's a
low voter turnout within millennials in polls across the nations and I believe that if i register
many of my classmates and encourage them to vote we can cause a slight change. Additionally,
we will go around our communities and register many people to get registered, and explain to
them why it should be done. By the end of this capstone I hope to spread awareness to the
importance of voting.

This Capstone is a stretch for me since I dont typically contact organizations to come to
school and register people to vote. Furthermore, going door to door and speak to people is what
will help me improve my communication skills and get out of my comfort zone. Furthermore,
speaking to an audience of more than fifty people isnt something typical to me however I aspire
to improve on my speaking skills and presentation skills. I will do extensive research on the
statistics of voter turnout and what local issues can be fixed through voting.
I understand that plagiarism is taking someones work and claiming it your own and its
morally wrong and unethical. None of my research will be plagiarized, Ill make sure to use my
own words and reword things when using other sources for my paper. I pledge to do my best

work in completing my capstone project and affirm that I will not plagiarize nor falsify any
documents during the capstone process.
Works Cited
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Millennials Were In Control Comments. N.p., 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
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"Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.
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McDonald, Michael P. "Young People Don't Vote in Midterm Elections." The Huffington Post.
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