The Modern Day Pamphlets: Empowering Peers to Allow Their Voices to be Heard

Axel Butler (pictured right) presenting to Kiwanis Board. Photo courtesy of Joseph Kusak.

Young demonstrators take to the streets, demanding the federal government to lower the voting age to eighteen, equivalent to the legal drafting age of the Vietnam war. They believed that if they have to risk their lives to go to war, then they can vote and have a say in what their government should look like. 

Now, we have students carrying on that legacy.

For a week, Gallatin High School’s Key Club set up a table parallel to the monument stairs asking for one thing: student voters. Axel Butler, high school senior and Key Club Vice President had a clear goal to increase voter registration amongst students aged 18 by election day. Along with student body vice president, Logan Haynes, their passion project showed strong community engagement.

Both Butler and Haynes are connected with the American Youth Association (AYA), a nonprofit organization designed to connect the youth with advocacy by creating an environment where students have a platform that engages with legislation. Being a part of the community for a year, Butler decided to take action by organizing a voter registration stand, an effort to create a more civically engaged generation. Butler was earnest about his privileges, reminding us, “growing up in Bozeman, a lot of us have the privilege to not engage in politics, but there’s people in the world that don’t have that privilege.” Similarly, Haynes stated, “it’s more important than ever for people to make educated voting decisions.” 

Butler says Key Club’s engagement with potential voters has been incredibly impactful. “We registered a little over 30 new seniors to vote,” estimated Butler, who stresses the importance of the number “considering a lot of kids haven’t turned 18 yet.” Haynes points out the strengths of their project, allowing voices that are directly impacted to be heard in municipal elections as well. 

This November 4, Bozeman voters will decide their next mayor, elect two new city commissioners, and judge the merits of a ballot initiative related to clean water and affordable housing. 

While Butler was running the drive, he noticed the handful of students who were of age, yet chose not to participate. He believes, “there’s this stigma behind youth in politics.” While there’s still many opportunities to connect, Butler urges people to be aware of their privileges and be cognizant of the world beyond themselves.

Montana continues to have some of the highest voter turnout rates in the nation with a 68% turn out rate, as found from Montana’s Democracy Profile. During the 2022 mid-term elections, 65% of Montana voters were 50 years and older while only 35% of the votes were from people ages 18-49. This can be linked to the fact that Montana is also ranked the sixth oldest state with an estimated 70% of its citizens 65 years and older, according to the AARP.

The AYA’s overarching mission is to increase the number of youth-registered voters, especially since they’re the ones being directly affected by legislation related to education, social media, and the environment.

In the end, it’s agreed upon that the votes and opinions of young people matter. Butler believes that “having that mindset is what feeds people to care.” Students are important to the community, evidenced through prior student-led action, from Vietnam to Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future protests. While the youth organizers involved in these endeavors had different backgrounds, their collective action united a generation behind civic engagement.

Today, Gallatin’s students are fighting a similar fight, funneling healthy peer pressure and outreach, ultimately acting as the harbingers of change.