EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH VOTING RIGHTS

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Vanessa Li. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Vanessa Li found her confidence while empowering other young people to get the vote. At 16, she saw there was a severe lack of youth representation in the local government and decided to do something about it. During her sophomore year of high school, Vanessa’s local county board of commissioners faced the issue of whether or not they wanted to raise taxes to increase funding for the school system. But as a student, Vanessa realized she had no capacity to vote on the issue. Watching community members with the right to vote speak in favor of lowering their taxes was troubling, particularly because they weren’t even members of the school system. It was then that Vanessa realized that she needed to participate from within the system in order to make systemic change. She established Vote16MD, a youth-led, non-partisan campaign advocating to lower the voting age to 16 and 17 in local Maryland elections.

While establishing the organization was a success, it didn’t mean Vanessa wouldn’t face an uphill battle. It was then that Vanessa learned that creating change requires persistence and resilience. She was frequently told by adult leaders that her ideas were almost childish, and the group wasn’t taken seriously because of their age. Defeating the skepticism around lowering the voting age and youth suffrage is a frequent battle, and it’s something people are apprehensive about. Still, Vanessa and her team fight on. In under two years, they have led voting reform in College Park and Berwyn Heights, enfranchising over 3,000 youth. They’ve authored state legislation, hosted statewide conferences and have even been featured in the New York Times.

Vanessa commits over 50 hours per month to Vote16MD, all while preparing to graduate from high school this spring. When she graduates and attends college in the fall, she intends to major in public policy and education with a specialization in civic engagement. She hopes to work in policy upon graduation and eventually become a lawyer. While her journey with Vote16MD has already laid the groundwork to empower young people for the future, it’s likely we’ll hear lots more from Vanessa as she continues to change the world in the future. Her dedication to volunteer work is a powerful example of how people can change the world through volunteerism, no matter their age.

What inspires you to volunteer?

My parents are public servants, so I’ve always been a person who’s civically engaged and sees the value in civic involvement and advocacy. This issue matters a lot to me because it’s all about representation and impact. Policies about our schools, funding and local governance matter so much to us, because it directly impacts us. In general, being of help to youth, specifically on the advocacy and legislative sides, is where I really put in my volunteer efforts, and that’s where I find the most meaning in my life.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Vote16MD.

I currently serve as the director and co-founder of Vote 16 Maryland. As director, I lead the legislative and grassroots efforts across the state of Maryland. I help testify before boards and collaborate with our municipal youth leaders to pass policies. I also manage regional chapters in 16 counties with over 160 youth organizers. I’ve been able to oversee federal and state advocacy days, work on civic podcasts with notable leaders, including Mary Beth Tinker. I’ve also been able to work on county-specific campaigns, so it’s been really exciting. My work overall focuses on establishing lifelong voting habits by empowering 16- and 17-year-olds to have a say in things that affect them.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

When I was a sophomore in high school, our county board of commissioners faced the issue of whether or not they wanted to raise taxes to increase funding for our school system. Being a student with no tangible impact or voice, it was really difficult to watch community members go up and advocate for lower taxes because they were not in the school system. It was easier for them to advocate for their own interests. But being a student myself, and just like my peers, it was really difficult to sit there and just watch. There’s nothing you can really do besides lobby and testify. That’s the extent that a student or a teenager can go to. I realized that if the problem was systemic, then the solution must be systemic as well. In 2013, Maryland and Takoma Park lowered their voting age, and I wanted to reinvigorate that movement.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

Our long-term vision is to expand youth enfranchisement across all of Maryland and strengthen our civic engagement broadly. We’re also working toward lowering the voting age in two municipalities by 2026 by the end of this year, and four by 2028, so we’re trying to double our impact over the next couple of years. Right now, we’re working on lowering the voting age in Howard County Board of Education elections. There is a piece of legislation that’s going through the Maryland General Assembly at this moment, so we’re really excited. But at the same time, we’re also working to build a leadership apparatus that allows us to continue our project.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding part has been seeing the direct impact on other young people. When other school directors come up to me and thank me for giving them the opportunity to meet this coalition, it’s inspired me to be more confident in my public speaking skills when I’m testifying. It’s inspired me to start my own coalition. Seeing when College Park lowered the voting age and implemented it back in September of last year, and seeing local teens going to the polls and watching it on the news, was so rewarding. I could actually make a difference. Seeing the tangible effects of everything coming together was really rewarding. That sense of empowerment for others has been really cool to see.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Getting involved creates change in a field of representation where it doesn’t exist. My co-founder and I started as two young advocates from different points in the state because we felt unrepresented where we were. Through our action, emailing, cold calls, countless meetings, countless written testimonies sent in and recruiting students all across the state, we realized that it’s possible to create representation for ourselves, and that was really empowering. Taking the initiative can open doors for others. Not only are we able to empower others, but we were also able to show people that youth are so much more capable than they think they are.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

When I first wrote about Vote16, I thought it was so far-fetched. But it can actually happen. Pushing through and being so passionate about what matters to you will take you far. Having a lot of confidence and being so open about what you care about will take you far. People who are actually passionate will take action to the farthest it can go. I’m really grateful that through this coalition, I’ve been able to build that confidence in myself.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to learn that no matter where you come from, you can still create an impact. I’m from a small part of southern Maryland, and we lowered the age in College Park, which is hours away. We lowered the voting age in Berlin Heights, as well. Seeing that ripple effect was really cool. You don’t have to come from a lot and you don’t have to have a lot in the first place to make a change in other people. You can just start with an idea, and you can just start with a hustle and that can take you a long way.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Vanessa? Find local volunteer opportunities.