In Santa Ana, the largest voting bloc—its youth—is also the most silent. This November, that silence could cost us. The stakes have never been higher for young people in Santa Ana and across the country. Youth in Santa Ana make up the largest voting bloc, yet they have historically had the lowest voter turnout in local elections. It’s time to flip the script. Youth hold a tremendous amount of power–but too few are using it. The future of our city is in our hands and it’s up to us to shape it. Local organizations are working on the ground to shape the electorate and ensure we have representatives in office that are working towards creating a better future for young people in Santa Ana.
While local races may not feel as glamorous or attention-grabbing as the national election, these are the races that most impact our day-to-day experiences. Our City Council and School Board make critical policy decisions on issues like housing affordability, quality of education, mental health resources, public safety, and career opportunities. The decisions made by our local elected officials are felt immediately. The decisions our representatives make will determine the future our generation will inherit.
But here’s the issue: young voters in Santa Ana are sitting out of the democratic process. The turnout rate among young voters is alarmingly low, even though young people make up a massive portion of eligible voters. In 2020, California’s eligible voter turnout for 18-24 year olds was 47.4% while eligible voter turnout for ages 55+ was 73%. This was an abnormally strong year for youth voter turnout. However, in the 2022 Santa Ana midterm elections, the turnout for registered voters between the ages of 18-24 was 18%. Only 3,316 18-24 year olds voted, out of 18,367 registered voters. These statistics don’t take into account the large number of 18-24 year olds who are not registered to vote in Santa Ana.
Many youth feel disconnected from the political process and believe their vote doesn’t matter. On the local level, these sentiments are far from the truth. Elections have been won—and lost—by a handful of votes. The votes of a single household could be the votes that tip the balance on issues that affect your community, your family, and your future.
This November, key local races for the Santa Ana City Council and Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education will be on the ballot. These are the local governmental bodies that will decide whether young people have access to after-school programs, whether parks and public spaces are safe, whether affordable housing is built, and how resources are allocated to support working-class Latinx families.
Organizations like Chispa are working directly within the community to ensure that the voices of young people and working-class Latinx families are heard. Chispa not only supports candidates who champion policies that benefit these families, but once those candidates are elected, the organization works with them to ensure these policies are implemented. From advocating for the implementation of a police oversight commission to pushing for greater investments in youth programs and services, Chispa is making sure that elected officials remain accountable to the community.
Equally crucial to this effort is Santa Ana Youth Vote (SAY Vote), a youth-led organization started in response to the low youth turnout rates in 2022. SAY Vote has partnered with the Santa Ana Unified School District and Santa Ana College to increase high school and college voter pre-registration and registration rates. Last month, the Santa Ana School Board passed a resolution recognizing High School Voter Education Weeks, partnering with SAY Vote to increase voter education and pre-registration efforts. SAY Vote is targeting those who are most often ignored in the electoral process–young residents who are not registered to vote.
Santa Ana’s youth voting bloc has the chance to rewrite the future of their city by casting their ballot this November. The School Board and City Council races are more than just a political contest–they’re about electing people who will fight for affordable housing, safe schools, mental health resources, and good paying jobs.
So don’t sit this election cycle out. Create a plan before Election Day on Tuesday, November 5th:
- Pre-register or register to vote by visiting: www.registertovote.ca.gov
- Fill out, sign, and mail your ballot before November 5th
- Vote in-person at a polling location nearest to you
Diego Sarmiento
Diego Sarmiento was born and raised in Santa Ana and is a current undergraduate student at UCLA. He is the director of Santa Ana Youth (SAY) Vote. He hopes to fight for economic rights and to ensure politics are determined by everyone, not just wealthy individuals and large corporations.
