Press Release

Student-members of ASU’s Cronkite Agency created a three-video campaign on the significance of the 26th Amendment on behalf of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. The goal of the campaign is to motivate young people – who historically vote at lower rates than any other age group – to register to vote.

The videos feature the voices of young people talking about the importance of voting and reveal the inspiring history of how young people won their right to vote through the 26th Amendment. With the 2024 election cycle approaching, the campaign seeks to spur youth voter education.

“Voting gives us power over our future, and I hope the videos will show other people our age why their voice matters," said Kaden Ryback, one of five undergraduate and graduate students specializing in digital audiences and public relations with the Cronkite Agency.

In the first video, the Cronkite Agency team conducted man-on-the-street interviews to talk with college students about why they vote and what they know about the 26th Amendment.

The second video shares the story of how youth voting rights activists organized to lower the federal voting age from 21 to 18, pushing Congress to pass the amendment in the fastest ratification time for any amendment.

The third video features more students speaking about why they vote and a final call to action for young people to register to vote on Clean Elections’ website. This is the final video of the campaign.

The videos, released on Clean Elections’ Youtube page, were accompanied by behind-the-scenes clips and short-form video content from the campaign series posted on Clean Elections’ Facebook and Instagram.

The youngest voting demographic represents only 4% of Arizona primary voters and 5% of Arizona general election voters. Many young voters feel they are not knowledgeable enough to participate or that a single vote doesn’t matter. The campaign aims to improve these numbers by generating excitement and anticipation for voting as well as educating younger audiences about the significance of the 26th Amendment.

“We wanted a team within the demographic to work on this campaign so that it will connect the content with others their age,” said Gina Roberts, Voter Education Director at Clean Elections. “Their insights and perspectives have been invaluable as we’ve worked to inspire a new generation of voters to make their voices heard.”

About Clean Elections

Clean Elections was established by Arizona voters to restore citizen participation and confidence in Arizona’s political system, to improve the integrity of State government and to promote freedom of speech under the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Visit www.azcleanelections.gov to learn more.

About the Cronkite Agency

The Cronkite Agency includes strategic communications and digital marketing practitioners participating in one of the premier capstone classes at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus. The student-powered agency provides members the opportunity to work on communications/ marketing campaigns on behalf of real-world corporate and non-profit clients. Current and past clients include the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Bubble Skincare, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Host Committee, Yubico and the Phoenix Suns. For more information, visit cronkite.asu.edu/experiences/agency/ or email [email protected]. # # #