Getting Out the Vote

Gretchen Coleman never backs down from a challenge. So, when the 2021 Truman Scholarship finalist recognized that young voters consistently turn out in lower numbers than older generations, she founded Ballot Z, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to broadening youth voting in her home state of Illinois.

Coleman, a dual major in political philosophy and political science, says her studies, combined with Ballot Z, will help prepare her for a career in election reform. The scholarship is regarded as the nation’s premier award for those pursuing public service leadership. “Many young people don’t vote because they don’t realize how easy it is to do,” she says. “I’ve consolidated election informa- tion into a single website, providing a one-stop shop for voting in Illinois.”

She is familiar with the myths and misconceptions about voting—that her peers are too busy to register, or that their individual votes don’t matter, or that presidential elections are the only ones that count. “Many people think voting is more complicated than it really is. Ballot Z makes reputable voting information easy to find online,” Coleman continues. “We just need a little push to get our voices heard.”

Coleman creates and uploads content to the internet about election procedures, voting resources and changes in voting laws. She also is a sought-after public speaker, discussing the importance of “getting out the vote” with anyone willing to listen—fellow students, parents, civic groups and reporters.

Explaining that Millennials and members of Gen Z account for 37 percent of the electorate, Coleman says technology shapes the way young voters are registered and mobilized. “It takes less than two minutes to register to vote by phone,” she says. “Making our voices heard by voting is one of the easiest, most effective ways to bring about change. It is a duty and a privilege.”

Learn more about Ballot Z at ballot-z.org.

—Rob Enslin