Learning what motivates first-time voters can inspire other Californians to participate

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When we imagine a first-time voter, most of us see a young person who just turned 18, bright-eyed and possibly poorly informed, but a passionate voter nonetheless.

What we don’t picture are all the other people casting ballots for the first time, whether they’re a disaffected citizen who became motivated to vote, a naturalized immigrant who made sacrifices for their right to vote or someone formerly incarcerated finally gaining the right — one many still don’t have, depending on where they live.

In this collection, CalMatters asked first-time voters to share their reasons for voting this year. We wanted to know what compelled them to participate in our democracy at a time when so many others have expressed immense frustration and reluctance.

Hearing from others who are making the effort to vote this year — whether that’s taking time to show up at a polling site or mailing their ballot — might help you discover your reason for voting.

For those who are able and eligible, I will always advocate for voting. The more people who participate in democracy, the more representative that democracy will become. However, I can understand why people are fed up with our politics and are hesitant to take valuable time out of their lives to vote. 

This is why I think it’s important to understand why others do vote.

As someone civically active from an early age, Sunshine Thao has witnessed the power of local organizing after canvassing for a youth funding measure in Sacramento. Thao challenges young people to make their own impact by casting a ballot to honor the hard work of activists who fought for the right to vote — and the work that advocacy groups continue to do.

For Bella Tarlton, a Eureka teen, her passion for protecting the environment informs her desire to vote for candidates that champion climate-forward policies. While climate change may not be a top issue for other voters, Tarlton’s apprehension for her future shows just how strongly some young people feel about wanting a safe future — something that almost everyone can relate to.

Richard “Bonaru” Richardson provided unique and powerful insight into the significance of voting for formerly incarcerated Californians. As a youth offender who has been unable to vote on policies that directly affected him, Richardson’s assertion that voting represents a full-circle moment of integration into society brings new meaning to the privilege of voting.

These are just a few of the authors, and they represent so many others who are casting their ballots for the first time, coming from an infinite variety of backgrounds with infinite motivations to vote. 

What they have in common is that their life experiences inform their desire for change — something we all seek when faced with challenges.

We have the privilege of direct involvement in our government, something that sets us apart from many other countries across the world. That is a privilege we should not take lightly. Many people came to our country to escape autocracies and dictatorships where they had no say in the issues that impacted their lives.

When we see or experience something that we would like to change, we have the power to do something about it — no matter how small — by casting a ballot for people or policies we believe in.

California is also unique in giving people better access to direct democracy through ballot measures. While the process can be tedious, California laws make it easier for critical issues to go directly before voters.

This year there are 10 statewide ballot measures. They range from fiscal decisions to social and cultural ones: Californians will vote on affirming same-sex marriage, borrowing money to fund climate protections and school improvements, ending forced prison labor, raising the minimum wage and more.

Those measures will directly impact our lives and we get to decide them. If you still aren’t sure if you’ll vote this November, take a moment to read about why others are — you might just find that you share their concerns and be inspired to cast your own ballot.