In the heart of South Los Angeles, a wave of young voices is making itself heard. As the 2026 primary elections approach, California’s youth are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the state’s political future. This surge in youth engagement is not just a fleeting trend but a testament to the growing political awareness among the younger generation.

The 2026 primary elections are witnessing a notable shift, with young voters aged 18-34 making up a larger portion of the electorate compared to 2026. This increase is attributed to a combination of factors, including policy changes that have streamlined the voter registration process for young people who frequently move within the state.

Youth voter registration on the rise

According to an analysis by Political Data Intelligence (PDI), as of Thursday, voters aged 18-34 accounted for 13% of all ballots counted, marking a 4 percentage point increase from the 2026 primary. This growth can be largely attributed to the automatic re-registration policy for voters moving within California.

Paul Mitchellvice president at PDI, highlighted the impact of this policy: “Young people have benefited from their registrations staying alive when they are constantly shuffling around the state.” Despite this increase, the turnout rate among young voters remains slightly lower than in 2026. However, Mitchell noted that late voters tend to be heavily young people, which could potentially boost the final turnout for this demographic.

First-time voters in South L.A. make their mark

Among the late voters were students from Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School in South L.A. On Tuesday, about 40 seniors, accompanied by their teachers, walked to the Washington Park vote center to cast their ballots for the first time. This event was part of a long-standing tradition at the school, where civic engagement has been a key part of the curriculum since its opening in 2006.

The school’s government and economics teacher, Joel Snyderemphasized the importance of making democracy relevant to students’ lives. “I think about how to make the pitch to them that democracy is important in their lives and is a public good,” Snyder said.

Voices of the first-time voters

The students shared their motivations for voting, each bringing a unique perspective shaped by their personal experiences and community concerns. Josea senior at Ánimo Pat Brown Charter High School, expressed his desire to do what’s right for the state and the country, especially given his family’s immigration status. “I have immigrant parents, they aren’t able to vote, but I see that my sister’s able to vote since she is older, and also my older brother — and that motivated me to vote,” Jose said.

Katherineanother senior, felt that voting was a way to help her community, particularly in addressing issues related to ICE raids. “I felt like me voting was helping my community in a way. Some issues that are really important to me is that of ICE. Honestly, when the ICE raids were happening, I was really afraid for a lot of people in my community,” Katherine shared.

Nataliaalso a senior, emphasized the importance of having representatives who understand and address the struggles of their community. “It’s really important that we have a representative who hears all our voices and our struggles and is able to implement them,” Natalia stated.

Marthaanother senior, wanted to ensure that she used her power as a citizen and encouraged others to do the same. “I wanna make sure that I actually use, like, the power I [get] as a citizen, and I wanna make sure that others also feel influenced to actually use their power and vote,” Martha said.

Ivan, another student, initially felt skeptical about voting but was motivated by his friends and the desire to change the homelessness problem in his community. “At first I was skeptical about it. I didn’t wanna vote, because I was like ‘my voice doesn’t really matter.’ But at the final moment, I decided to vote because I seen my friends vote, and I wanted to vote with them,” Ivan explained.

The stories of these first-time voters highlight the diverse motivations and concerns that drive young people to participate in the democratic process. Their engagement is not just about casting a ballot but about making a difference in their communities and the broader political landscape.