There are already too many barriers in the way of a Texan exercising his or her right to vote. As for our next generation of voters, we give them little chance to learn about navigating these burdensome obstacles. The State gives little to no funding towards civic education and is severely lacking in education about voting, especially in minority communities. Political engagement, voting rights, and community service are all parts of what a civics education should include, but without the support of our state in actually providing high quality education, it’s no surprise young Texans struggle to contribute to their communities.

Minority communities are particularly impacted by this lack of support for education, effectively severing our young people from the world of civic engagement. Many elected officials tend to ignore these communities because of a reputation as non-voters or as low turnout communities. And in turn, these communities feel neglected and underrepresented, perpetuating the cycle of failing to participate in our democracy. 

The reality is that the state has failed to provide many communities with the tools or know-how to actively engage in civic life.