Teen Too Young to Vote Builds Social Media Project to Prepare Peers for the Ballot Box

A 16-year-old high school student in South Florida cannot yet vote, but she has found a way to take part in the political conversation anyway. Uma Hedge is using the platforms her generation already spends hours on to explain politics to other teens.

Hedge says she has long followed current events and political issues. Over time she noticed that many of her friends and fellow teens either did not care about the topics or did not understand them. Even she sometimes struggled to follow interviews and debates, she said, which made her think about how much harder it must be for peers who were not raised around those conversations.

"I would watch these interviews and these debates, I'd realize, 'Huh, I'm having trouble understanding this.' Imagine how my peers who weren't raised in this environment, imagine how they must feel," she said.

Earlier this year she started an initiative called Before the Ballot. Its goal is to educate teenagers on bipartisan issues so they are informed voters once they reach 18. Hedge said she wanted to speak to her generation "eye-to-eye," lay out the facts, and let them decide which issues matter most to them. In her view, that approach builds the foundation for caring about politics, since "eventually, it's going to be our turn."

Each week, Hedge posts discussion videos on local and global news to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. She also publishes interviews with candidates for office from Florida and across the country, and she speaks with people from every political party.

She said the range of guests has not been a problem. "I've interviewed from one end of the spectrum to the other. I've loved all of them," Hedge said, adding that the biggest lesson from the project is that she can find a common thread with almost anyone.

In just a few months, Before the Ballot has gained thousands of followers. Hedge said the response surprised her, and that friends have texted to tell her she is their source of news. That support is motivating her as the country approaches the upcoming midterm election. Having interviewed politicians and seen the behind-the-scenes side of campaigns, she said, the process feels far more interesting to her now.

Hedge will not be able to vote in this election, but she will be old enough to cast a ballot in the next presidential election. "I can't wait! I'm so ready," she said.

She hopes her peers come to share that enthusiasm. "We have the power to change the world and I don't think enough of us have realized that yet," Hedge said. If her videos lead even one person to decide they should vote and take part in civic duty, she said, her mission will be accomplished. Until then, she plans to keep building Before the Ballot so she and her friends are prepared when their turn comes.